Category: Blogs

Poland welcomes Russian inspection of new missile defense system, “on a reciprocal basis”

By the State Department

From the State Department:  SECRETARY CLINTON:  Today, by signing an amendment to the ballistic missile defense agreement, we are reinforcing this commitment. The amendment will allow us to move forward with Polish participation in hosting elements of the phased adaptive approach to missile defense in Europe.

Clinton: “the doors to NATO remain open” for Ukraine

By Hillary Clinton, the State Department

NATO’s Cyber Threat

By James Joyner, the National Interest

US Afghanistan policy not working: French general

By AFP

Central Asia: Reset Won’t Fix It

By David Smith

Cyber Attacks and Article 5

By James Joyner

As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization completes its new Strategic Concept, it should be resist expanding its guarantee of automatic response to include cyber and other unconventional attacks. Otherwise, it may fracture the alliance while, perversely, decreasing security against said actions. In a February speech to the Atlantic Council, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton strongly suggested that […]

Emerging Power among Europe’s Leaders: Herman Van Rompuy

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  [T]he new European president of the council of national leaders, Herman Van Rompuy, an economist and former Belgian prime minister, has moved more quickly than others to establish a powerful staff.

Two Competing Visions of a European Economy

By Steven Erlanger, the New York Times

From Steven Erlanger, the New York Times:  The market storm over the fate of the euro has calmed to prevailing winds, but there is considerable nervousness here over the economic health of Spain, the impact of austerity on long-term growth and continuing differences between France and Germany over the economic direction of the European Union.

U.S.-EU Bank-Data Transfer Deal Explained

By Kurt Volker

The United States and the European Union have signed a bank data-transfer agreement that will give U.S. authorities access to EU bank transfer data, under EU supervision, in an effort to combat terrorism. In an e-mail interview, Kurt Volker, Atlantic Council senior adviser, former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and managing director of the Center on […]

NATO chief hopes Afghan handover to start in November

By Barry Hatton, the AP

From Barry Hatton, the AP:  NATO’s secretary-general hopes the alliance can begin handing over control of some Afghan provinces to local authorities beginning in November.