New Atlanticist

Luxembourg Takes Over EU Presidency from Latvia in Midst of Greek Eurozone Crisis

By Larry Luxner

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, second-smallest member of the European Union (EU) in population but by far its wealthiest, officially takes over the EU Council’s rotating presidency from Latvia at midnight July 1. The handover, to be marked by celebrations and a huge “European picnic” in the capital city’s Place d’Armes, comes just as debt-ridden […]

Grexit: Coming true?

By Larry Luxner

As Greece—its banks shuttered for the next week—counts down to a July 5 referendum on whether to accept or reject creditors’ demands, leaders of the European Union warn that a “no” vote would mean Greece’s expulsion from the nineteen-member Eurozone. Andrea Montanino, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Global Business and Economics Program, hopes it won’t […]

Ukraine, China, ISIS Top Long List of Challenges for EU, NATO

By Ariel Cohen

The unity and strategic viability of the transatlantic alliance and the US major non-NATO democratic allies, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Israel, the Philippines, and others, will be severely tested in the years to come. As always, freedom is not free, and its price is constant vigilance. The United States and its allies face significant […]

Top Pentagon Official Disputes Russian Claims that Aegis Ashore Violates INF Treaty

By Larry Luxner

Russia must return to compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty or face unspecified consequences from the United States, a top Pentagon official warned June 25 in a keynote address to the Atlantic Council. Brian P. McKeon, Principal Deputy Secretary for Policy at the Department of Defense, denied a continuing charge by the Kremlin […]

Latest Pew Study on America’s Global Image Reveals Some Surprises

By Larry Luxner

Africans generally love the United States, as do most of India’s 1.3 billion people, but Russians aren’t thrilled with US foreign policy, and Israelis—although they consider America their strongest ally—simply don’t trust President Barack Obama very much. People worldwide, however, generally support US military efforts against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), even […]

US Missile Defense Systems Must Adapt to Emerging High-Tech Threats

New dangers abound, from Russia to Iran to Asia-Pacific, warns Gen. James Cartwright Growing technological sophistication by countries and terrorist groups hostile to the United States are forcing the Pentagon to change long-held views about missile defense, said Gen. James E. Cartwright, Former Vice Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff. “The landscape has […]

Nuclear Expert Outlines India’s ‘Command and Control’ Policy

By Larry Luxner

Retired Brigadier Arun Sahgal, one of India’s top experts on nuclear policy, reasserted his country’s “no first use” doctrine in a June 23 presentation to the Atlantic Council. Sahgal, Director of the New Delhi-based Forum for Strategic Initiative, doesn’t represent official thinking, but he spoke from thirty-six years of experience in the Indian Army. “India’s […]

Asian, Latin American Diplomats Debate TPP as Trade Bill Advances in Congress

With US lawmakers on the verge of granting the White House fast-track authority to negotiate complex free-trade accords, diplomats representing four of Washington’s eleven allies in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership—Chile, Japan, Peru, and Singapore—gathered June 23 at the Atlantic Council to discuss TPP’s implications. The event, sponsored by the council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center, […]