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UK Defense Minister Michael Fallon, Oct. 30, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 6, 2015

UK Concerned Over ‘Threatening’ Russian Nuclear Strategy

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

Britain’s defence minister voiced concern on Friday that Russia may have “lowered the threshold” for using nuclear weapons and said Britain must update its own deterrent in response to Russian modernisation of its nuclear forces.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Our Take on the National Security Strategy

By New Atlanticist

The Obama administration rolled out its second-ever National Security Strategy (NSS) on February 6. Atlantic Council analysts weighed in on the NSS.

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

What Africa Strategy?

By J. Peter Pham

In the latest National Security Strategy released on February 6, President Obama asserts, “Today, the United States is stronger and better positioned to seize the opportunities of a still new century and safeguard our interests against the risks of an insecure world.” Yet, when specifically addressing Africa, which the President himself in an earlier strategy […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

National Security Strategy 2015: Platitudes R Us

By Robert A. Manning

My first thought upon seeing the long-awaited National Security Strategy was to recall the comments made to me some years ago by a prominent international leader when asked why he said certain things that seemed well beyond his ability to deliver, “Les mots, n’importe pas.” (Words don’t matter). For an administration six years on, its […]

National Security Security & Defense
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference, Feb. 6, 2015

NATOSource

Feb 6, 2015

NATO Secretary General Sees Danger in Russian Aggression and Annexation

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

Last year was a turning point. For European security. And for the global order. Here in Europe, we see a dangerous pattern of Russian behaviour. Annexation. Aggressive actions. And intimidation.

Middle East NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Three Elements of the NSS that Deserve More Attention

By Richard LeBaron

Other than a necessary new focus on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the new National Security Strategy is largely consistent with past reports. The document is an important statement of intent, but we can be pretty confident that no one in the US foreign policy apparatus will sleep with it next to […]

National Security Security & Defense

AfricaSource

Feb 6, 2015

What You Need to Know About Nigeria’s Upcoming Election

By Robert Lloyd

The February 14th presidential elections in Nigeria signal an important milestone in the political trajectory of Africa’s most populous country. Nigeria has held three successive presidential elections since its return to democracy in 1999 after years of authoritarian rule. The presidential elections, which occur on a four year cycle, have varied in terms of accepted […]

North & West Africa Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Middle East Needed More Attention in National Security Strategy

By Bilal Y. Saab

The National Security Strategy released on February 6 is solid for a second-term president who has two more years in office. The document puts a premium on and is crystal clear on leadership. That is comforting following accusations by international partners and allies  — some legitimate, others unfair — that the United States was disengaging […]

National Security Security & Defense

MENASource

Feb 6, 2015

Top News: Egypt’s foreign ministry slams reaction against recent life sentences

By MENASource

Egypt’s foreign ministry criticized on Friday the reaction of some countries and organizations against the life sentences handed to 230 defendants, including political activist Ahmed Douma, describing them as “unacceptable interference in the work of the Egyptian judiciary and disrespect to its rulings.”

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

National Security Strategy Fails for Not Being Prescriptive

By Alex Ward

The fact that the 2015 National Security Strategy was released a year before the Obama administration becomes a lame duck has made it almost inevitable that it will become an after-the-fact justification for the administration’s national security policy to date. Nonetheless, the NSS is an important document. Here’s why: we now know that the Obama […]

National Security Security & Defense