Atlantic Council blogs

The Trajectory of NATO: An Interview with Andrew Bacevich

By Jason Harmala

In his latest New Atlanticist Podcast, Atlantic Council senior fellow Sarwar Kashmeri spoke with Boston University Professor of International Relations and History Andrew Bacecvich on NATO’s Strategic Concept and the trajectory of the Alliance.

Renewing the International Order

By Kurt Volker

After eight months of reflection, the senior Group of Experts appointed by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and led by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, issues its report today. On this basis, the secretary general will prepare a new Strategic Concept for Allies to approve at a summit in Lisbon this November. […]

Poland Says No NATO Secrets Leaked in Kaczynski Crash

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti: There were no NATO sensitive data or devices on board the Polish president’s plane that crashed in April near west Russia’s Smolensk, a top Polish military counterintelligence official has said. A Soviet-made Tu-154 aircraft crashed on April 10 when it attempted to land in thick fog, killing all 96 people on board, […]

U.S. Abandoning Russia’s Neighbors

By David J. Kramer, the Washington Post

From David J. Kramer, the Washington Post: Some 14 months ago on this page, I warned against a "grand bargain" between the United States and Russia as part of the Obama administration’s reset efforts with Moscow. One concern then was that the administration would pursue a "Russia first" policy at the expense of Russia’s neighbors.

East Europe Feels Ignored by NATO, Report Says

By Judy Dempsey, New York Times

Shahzad’s Pashtun Connection

By Don Snow

Why Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square attempted bomber, decided to mount the terrorist attack against his adopted country has been the subject of a great deal of speculation in the two weeks since it occurred. Most of the analysis has not been very helpful, filled with the kinds of platitudes that run through the terrorism […]

NATO Releases Report on the New Strategic Concept from the Group of Experts

By Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  I have been looking very much forward to this day, the presentation of the Report on the New Strategic Concept from the Group of Experts under leadership of Secretary Albright. … This Report is not the Strategic Concept itself, but it is a very important first step in preparing […]

NATO Code Compromised

By Bill Gertz, the Washington Times

From Bill Gertz, the Washington Times:  The recent crash of a Polish military transport that killed most of Warsaw’s senior civilian and military leaders was not only a human catastrophe for a key U.S. ally. NATO sources said that, in addition to the loss of nearly 100 pro-U.S. Polish leaders, the crash provided Moscow with […]

NATO F-16 Follows Russian Bombers Over Norwegian Sea

By RIA Novosti

From RIA Novosti: Russian Tu-95MS Bear strategic bombers have carried out a routine patrol flight over the Norwegian Sea, the Defense Ministry said on Friday. "Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off from Engels Airbase [in Saratov Region] on May 12 and carried out patrols over neutral waters in Norwegian Sea," spokesman Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik […]

Britain’s Speedy Transitions

By James Joyner

In American presidential elections, held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, the new president is sworn in at noon on January 20 and he has his full team in place in, oh, two years.   In the UK, the transition customarily takes place quite literally overnight and, when it takes a whole week […]