Security & Defense

Regional conflicts: Strategies for quelling violence and prospects for Sino-U.S. cooperation

This paper explores the choices and trade-offs that the United States typically faces when it considers the problem of quelling violence in failing states and chronically unstable regions. After first considering the hazards posed by these regions, the paper explicates the tools and techniques required by various courses of action.  It also discusses some of […]

Transforming the NATO Military Command Structure: A New Framework for Managing the Alliance’s Future

The current NATO command structure is insufficient to manage the individually formidable tasks of changing doctrine; out of area operations; emerging and unpredictable threats and asymmetric strategies; cleaner “supported-supporting” command relationships; integration of joint forces; and making the transition from threat-based to capabilities-based force development simultaneously. Download the PDF

Missile defense in Asia

The Atlantic Council asked General Michael Carns, USAF (Ret.), Dr. Jacques Gansler, and Walter B. Slocomb to visit Asia to conduct in-depth discussions with political, military, and business leaders on all aspects of missile defense, including threat assessments, strategic implications, and the likely consequences of missile defense developments for the future security environment and the […]

Transforming NATO Forces: European Perspectives

By C. Richard Nelson and Jason S. Purcell

The papers in this compendium were prepared for a conference in October 2002 designed to illuminate European perspectives on the growing transatlantic military capabilities gap and on how this gap might be bridged. The conference was organized into four panels: the first focused broadly on capabilities, the second on “Spending More Wisely” initiatives, the third […]

Transforming NATO Forces: European Perspectives

The papers in this compendium were prepared for a conference in October 2002 designed to illuminate European perspectives on the growing transatlantic military capabilities gap and on how this gap might be bridged. The conference was organized into four panels: the first focused broadly on capabilities, the second on “Spending More Wisely” initiatives, the third […]

New Capabilities: Transforming NATO Forces

This paper makes suggestions for the process of NATO force transformation and strategy development. The authors explain that in order to achieve successful future force transformation, NATO must focus on integrating information systems, deploying further precision weapons and creating a spearhead force as a catalyst for transformation. The paper states that the alliance must also […]

Elusive Partnership: US and European Policies in the Near East and the Gulf

This report presents the US-Middle East delegation’s assessment of European attitudes and its conclusions and recommendations for the policies of the US government. The authors analyze the history of US–European relations on the topic of the Middle East and discuss the European attitudes toward the problem as well as the directions and dynamics of the […]

Managing Proliferation Issues With Iran

Any government in Tehran will be inclined to seek weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile delivery options given the realities of its strategic environment. These weapons might help Iran to deter potential external threats, to achieve equality with other major regional powers armed with WMD, and to attain self-reliance in national security, given the […]

The Bulgarian Defense Industry: Strategic Options for Transformation, Reorientation, and NATO Integration

By Jeffrey P. Bialos

This report identifies strategic options available to the Bulgarian government and its defense industry, as well as the United States and its NATO partners, for transforming and repositioning the industry for the 21st century and facilitating its integration into the NATO and European Union industrial base. Since other Partnership for Peace (PfP) countries that are […]