Security & Defense

US and NATO Diplomat Bob Simmons Passed Away

By US Department of State

The Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs regrets to announce the death of our dear colleague and friend, Robert F. “Bob” Simmons, Jr.

Strategy Session with Ambassador Kasper Høeg-Jensen

The upcoming year will prove to be pivotal for NATO, as the 2014 Summit to be held September 4-5 in Newport, Wales has the potential to usher in a new chapter in the Alliance and as NATO members draw down from the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Against this backdrop, Ambassador Kasper Høeg-Jensen, director of the […]

Former UK Chief of Defense Doubts Afghan Army Will Succeed After NATO Withdraws

By AFP

Former British defence chiefs warned Monday that parts of southern Afghanistan could fall to the Taliban when British troops leave this year, despite Prime Minister David Cameron recently saying they had accomplished their mission.

Strategy Session with Estonian Minister of Defense Urmas Reinsalu

The Baltic nation of Estonia is not only one of NATO’s most active members, it lives on the often tense front line of the Atlantic alliance’s complex relationship with Russia. Estonia’s key role as a US ally, and its critical place in European security affairs are why the Atlantic Council invited Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu […]

Turkey Replaces Ambassadors in Washington, London, and Paris

By Hurriyet, Anadolu Agency, and Turkish Embassy in Tokyo

From Hurriyet Daily News:  A major reshuffle of Turkey’s most important diplomatic posts has taken effect with two former ambassadors to Japan, Serdar Kılıç and Abdurrahman Bilgiç, being posted as Turkey’s envoys to the United States and the United Kingdom respectively.

Europe Must be Prepared to Spend on Defense

By Ivo Daalder, Financial Times

Over the past decade, European countries have become increasingly involved in military operation

China and Russia Bring Back Cold War Tactics

By Anne Applebaum, Washington Post

We in the United States may not believe that there is any real threat to our longtime alliance structures in Europe and Asia, but other people think those alliances are vulnerable and have set out to undermine them.

US F-15s Take Over NATO’s Baltic Air Policing

By Lithuanian Ministry of Defense

On January 3 Belgium’s air contingent handed over NATO’s mission of ensuring security in the airspace of the Baltic States to air personnel of the United States of America operating four F-15 C Eagle fighter-jets

Hope for Afghanistan

By Michael O'Hanlon, Washington Post

The case for hopefulness on Afghanistan is built largely on what were probably its three most notable developments of 2013