Atlantic Council blogs

Russian, U.S. generals to discuss nuclear terrorism in Lisbon

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  Russian and U.S. generals will meet in Lisbon in June to discuss cooperation between the two countries in fighting nuclear terrorism, the head of the Russian Military Commanders Club said on Wednesday.

U.S. confirms $50 million aid for Ukraine’s nuclear security program

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti:  The United States has officially confirmed that it will render Ukraine $50 million to support the country’s nuclear security program.

Egypt and Pakistan: Is Time Friend or Foe?

By Harlan Ullman

For very different reasons, extraordinary events in Egypt and Pakistan could dramatically redefine global politics. The unanswerable first question is whether any such tectonic change, if it occurs, will be for good or for ill? A more nagging concern is given the excitement, outrage and expectations generated by these very different events, are the effects […]

Pentagon to stop funding a U.S.-European missile defense program

By Phillip Stewart and Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters

From Phillip Stewart and Andrea Shalal-Esa, Reuters:  The United States on Monday said it would stop funding a multibillion-dollar U.S.-European missile defense program known as MEADS after fiscal year 2013, calling it unaffordable in the current budget climate.

Turkey shelves EU reforms as accession hopes fade

By Ercan Yavuz, Zaman

From Ercan Yavuz, Zaman:  With key European Union states showing no sign of relenting in their opposition to Turkey’s accession, the government has postponed dozens of laws required to be passed to achieve harmonization with the 27-nation bloc’s standards until after the June elections, and even beyond.

Atlantic Update 2/15/11

By Jason Harmala

Trade talks between the EU and Georgia proceed with difficulty, and the New York and Frankfurt stock exchanges finalize merger plans.

Cyber Strategy: A New Term for an Age Old Issue

By Anthony Calandra

Germany Feels Some Push Back as It Grows More Euro-Assertive

By Stephen Castle, the International Herald Tribune

From Stephen Castle, the International Herald Tribune:  For decades Germans wanted to become more European and took care not to be seen bossing around their allies on the Continent. But now that the government in Berlin wants Europe to become more like Germany, the temperature is rising.

Marc Grossman to be new U.S. envoy to Afghanistan-Pakistan

By Mark Landler, the New York Times

From Mark Landler, the New York Times:  Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has chosen Marc Grossman, a retired senior diplomat and former ambassador to Turkey, as the Obama administration’s new special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, a senior State Department official said Monday.

Cuts in European defense budgets raise concerns for U.S., NATO

By Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post

From Michael Birnbaum, the Washington Post:  [S]ome top officials, including the U.S. defense secretary and the NATO secretary general, worry that the changes could burden the United States by reducing the number of European troops available for NATO missions and other military efforts around the world.