International Organizations

Origins and Future of a Europe Whole and Free

By Erik Brattberg

A panel discussion on the Origins of a Europe Whole and Free stepped back from the current issues facing the transatlantic community to reconsider the decisive moment of European history in 1989-1990, when the Berlin Wall was toppled and, within months, the entire edifice of Eastern Europe’s communist rule. The former national security advisors of […]

Consolidating Europe’s South

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

Toward a Europe Whole and Free Panel Explores Growth of Southern Europe After an eventful start to the two-day conference “Toward a Europe Whole and Free,” and immediately following keynote remarks by US Secretary of State John Kerry, the Atlantic Council held a moderated panel discussion on “Consolidating Europe’s South” with four ministers from the […]

Kerry Condemns Russian Escalation of Ukraine Conflict

Secretary of State in Keynote Remarks: Crisis is ‘Wakeup Call’ for NATO The Obama administration restated its support for NATO allies amid the Ukraine crisis today as Secretary of State John Kerry told European government ministers and diplomats that “we are prepared to … go the distance” to help NATO defend its members’ territory against […]

US Senators: Ukraine is “a Test” of the Transatlantic Relationship

By Alex Ward

The Role of the United States: A European Power Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) spoke as part of the Atlantic Council’s Toward a Europe Whole and Free conference on the US role in European security. Both senators believe that events in Ukraine are vital to the transatlantic relationship, with Senator Murphy calling […]

Zbigniew Brzezinski: Obama Has Failed to Communicate Ukraine Crisis to Americans

Former National Security Advisor Speaks on ‘The Eastern Edge of a Europe Whole and Free’ President Barack Obama has moved wisely with his administration’s progressive travel and financial sanctions against Russia’s ruling elite over Russia’a assault on Ukraine, but has failed to seriously begin building a domestic understanding that support for Ukrainians is vital to […]

History Relived: Europe’s Story

By Cassandra Lewis

Opening Panel of Toward a Europe Whole and Free As the world stands by watching how the crisis in Ukraine will unfold, leading historians discuss the lessons gleaned from the past hundred years of Europe’s history that defined the contours of today’s European security landscape. This panel discussion featured Dr. Robert Kagan of Brookings, H.E. […]

Opening Toward a Europe Whole and Free

Atlantic Council Chairman Jon Huntsman kicked off the conference Toward a Europe Whole and Free to a packed house at Atlantic Council headquarters. Immediately following his welcome, Tomáš Valášek, Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to NATO, and Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson made a joint presentation outlining the challenge of a Europe whole […]

Working Group on a New US Defense Strategy and Posture in the Gulf

For more than four decades, the United States has had a robust web of partnerships with the states comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). This system has helped to achieve common strategic goals, including securing the free and constant flow of oil from the region to the world at large; preventing the rise of a […]

The Jordan-Morocco Solution for GCC Defense Masks Bigger Issues

By Richard LeBaron

The US-based publication Defense News confidently reported on April 14 that the “GCC Seeks to Form Military Bloc with Jordan, Morocco.” The story relied on an unnamed Jordanian who advised that the invitation was tendered in late March.

Worried about Russia, EU Defense Ministers Agree to Work More Closely with NATO

By John-Thor Dahlburg, AP

Spooked by Russia’s actions against Ukraine and what the Kremlin may attempt in the future, European Union defense ministers agreed Tuesday to step up cooperation with the U.S.-led NATO defense alliance.