Scowcroft Center Commentary, Analysis, & Reports

NATO: The Case for Collective Defense in the 21st Century

On January 5, the Atlantic Council hosted the United Kingdom’s Secretary of Defense Philip Hammond for his first public remarks in the United States.

UK Defense Secretary: No Preemptive Strike on Iran

By James Joyner

While declaring "We would not be in favor of a preemptive strike on Iran," UK defense secretary Philip Hammond vowed that any attempt to disrupt the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz "would be illegal and unsuccessful." Speaking at the Atlantic Council on NATO and the Case for Collective Defense in the 21st Century, […]

UK Defense Secretary: Europe Failing to Meet Responsibilities

By James Joyner

In his first US address since become UK’s defense secretary, Philip Hammond blasted his fellow Europeans for “failing to meet their financial responsibilities to NATO, and so failing to maintain appropriate and proportionate capabilities.” Speaking at the Atlantic Council in advance of a meeting with his US counterpart, Leon Panetta, Hammond declared, “Without strong economies […]

Guido Westerwelle: Europe’s New Hillary Clinton?

By Julian Lindley-French

Watching German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle with British Foreign Secretary William Hague this week I was reminded of a John F. Kennedy quote; “The problem with power is how to achieve its responsible use, rather than its irresponsible or indulgent use”. That is not to suggest that Westerwelle is in any way irresponsible. Indeed, what […]

Mission Not Accomplished

By Harlan Ullman

Last week, the Obama administration announced the end of U.S. engagement in the Iraq war, honoring a campaign promise and the agreement that U.S. President George W. Bush reached with Baghdad to remove combat forces by the end of 2011.   But violence and instability in Iraq and the region are far from over. And […]

European Worries Over US Commitment a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?

By James Joyner

The perennial worry in London about the state of the “special relationship” took a new twist last week, with the chief of the British military chief publicly wondering what America’s Pacific focus will mean for his country’s security. General Sir David Richard, Chief of the Defence Staff, delivering his annual lecture to the Royal United Services […]

Iran Hedges Its Bets on Syria

By Barbara Slavin

Iran is courting the opposition to Syrian President Bashar al- Assad, seeking to maintain a crucial alliance in the event that Assad falls. So far, Iranian officials have met at least twice with members of the National Coordinating Committee (NCC). The Damascus-based group opposes foreign intervention in Syria and advocates reform to resolve the nine-month-old […]

Gates Renews Warning of Dim and Dismal Future for NATO

By Jorge Benitez

Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has revisited perhaps the most controversial speech in his career.

Unfinished Business

By Frank Klotz Susan Koch and Franklin Miller

In September 1991, President George H.W. Bush announced a series of sweeping measures fundamentally reshaping the American nuclear arsenal. One of them called for all U.S. ground-force tactical nuclear weapons to be returned from overseas bases and dismantled.

Strategy Session with Danish Foreign Minister Villy Søvndal

By Jason Harmala

On Wednesday, December 14, the Council hosted Minister Villy Søvndal in a working lunch and strategy session to discuss NATO involvement in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Minister visited Washington following his trips to Helmand Province and Kabul for meetings with ISAF and Afghan leaders, and his leadership of Denmark’s representation to the Bonn conference last […]

The New US “Blueprint” for National Cyber Security

By Jason Healey

Two and a half years since President Obama announced that “America’s economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cybersecurity,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is finally launching their new cybersecurity strategy.