Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

How Government Thinks – and How it Should

By Josh Kerbel

It is common knowledge that increasing societal complexity (i.e., interdependence and interconnectedness) is challenging the fundamental business models of an ever-growing range of industries. Thus, the entertainment, technology, manufacturing, information—the list could go on and on—industries are all under pressure to change the ways they think.

How the Moscow Talks Are Like ‘Seinfeld’

By Barbara Slavin

Not to be cynical, but it really doesn’t matter that the latest talks with Iran came up empty. Outnumbered six to one, Iranian negotiators did a classic job in Moscow earlier this week (June 18-19) of defending past positions, raising old grievances and demanding concessions that they knew they would not get. US officials offered little […]

US and Russia Finding Ways Around UN Security Council

By Barbara Slavin

Both the US and Russia are circumventing the UN Security Council to deal with the worsening crisis in Syria. Neither is making much progress.

Exiting Afghanistan: A Regional Approach

By Shuja Nawaz and Abigail Friedman

Now that the dust has settled on the Chicago Summit, it might be time to see what truly emerged from all the noise and celebration about the cooperation among NATO allies and with Afghanistan. One issue got lost in that hoopla: Afghanistan’s regional context.

Future Challenges of the Netherlands Navy in NATO

On June 19, the Atlantic Council hosted Vice Admiral Matthieu Borsboom, commander of the Royal Netherlands Navy, for a roundtable discussion on the future challenges of the Netherlands Navy in a NATO/European context.

US Offers Familiar Carrot For Iran Nuclear Compromise

By Barbara Slavin

Spare parts have been a perennial US offer to induce Iran to change its ways — or to reward it for positive steps — and were almost provided 20 years ago near the end of the George H.W. Bush administration, Al-Monitor has learned.

OPEC and Saudi Shrewd Middle Power Diplomacy

By Robert Manning

For middle powers like Saudi Arabia an effective foreign policy requires both cunning and a knack for identifying force multipliers. Of course, being the world’s largest oil producer is a bit of a force multiplier by itself, as the move on Thursday by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not to reduce production despite […]

Relations with Pakistan: Forging a New Partnership

By Shuja Nawaz

Pakistan is at a precarious point in its faltering return to democratic order, after yet another extended period of military-dominated rule that has left its bureaucratic system and civilian institutions stunted. Its polity and society have undergone rapid change, with countervailing forces emerging to counter the military’s overwhelming power. Though political parties remain weak and […]

US Exclusion of Iran on Syria Threatens Syria, Nuclear Talks

By Barbara Slavin

The Barack Obama administration’s apparent decision to cut Iran out of a multilateral group trying to resolve the Syria crisis may backfire, encouraging Tehran to sabotage any post-Assad government and also undermining nuclear talks with Iran. The US gave its most explicit rejection of Iranian participation Tuesday, June 12 when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton […]

Transition Seminar with Derek H. Chollet, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs

By Jason Harmala

On Thursday, June 7, the Atlantic Council hosted Derek H. Chollet, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs for an off-the-record transition seminar. Seminar participants briefed Chollet on transitioning from the White House to the Pentagon and regional challenges he will likely face in this new position.

Russia on NATO BMD: ‘You Say Defense, We See Threat’

By Nikolai Korchunov, the New York Times

From Nikolai Korchunov, the New York Times:  Why do the NATO Strategic Concept and the recently completed Deterrence and Defense Posture Review both state that “the supreme guarantee of the security of the allies is provided by the strategic nuclear forces of the alliance”?

Shanghai Cooperation Organization seeks role in Afghanistan after NATO forces leave in 2014

By the AP

From the AP:  Central Asian states meeting in Beijing this week say they want a role in stabilizing Afghanistan after most U.S. combat troops leave at the end of 2014

South Asian Meltdown?

By Harlan Ullman

Conditions in South Asia are chaotic, confused, critical and potentially catastrophic. Afghanistan, India and Pakistan are confronted with existential security, economic and political dangers that could overwhelm the capacity and limited resources of each state to address.

Pressure Mounts on Russia To Switch Horses in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

The US, Europe and Arab nations are mounting a concerted effort to convince Russia that it can maintain its alliance with Syria without Bashar al-Assad at the helm.