Transatlantic Security Initiative Commentary & Analysis

All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2020

UK remains committed to positive global role after Brexit, defence secretary says

By David A. Wemer

“The security of Europe is vital to the United Kingdom’s security [and] that will not change because we have left the political union of the European Union,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said on March 5.

European Union NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 12, 2020

The German center does not hold

By Michael John Williams

As Germans continue to come to grips with the political fall-out of the debacle in Thuringia and the selection of a new leader for the CDU, one thing is clear, the political stability offered by the dominance of the center-left and center-right that typified the Federal Republic of Germany is anything but certain in the months and years to come.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist

Feb 12, 2020

The Arctic is “not up for grabs,” Norwegian ambassador says

By Connor McPartland

“The Arctic is changing, but our objectives remain the same: to secure peace and stability,” Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Kare R. Aas said on February 6. During keynote address opening the Atlantic Council’s “Looking North: Conference on Security in the Arctic,” Aas laid out Norway’s approach to the Arctic, noting that it takes its role as an Arctic state seriously.

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jan 31, 2020

Stefanini interviewed by Formiche (Italian) on visit of Italian Defense Minister Guerini to Washington, D.C.

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Italian

In the News

Jan 15, 2020

Vershbow joins Aljazeera to discuss NATO in the Middle East

By Atlantic Council

Middle East NATO

New Atlanticist

Jan 6, 2020

Shaping the global future together: the Council’s “Top fifteen hits” of 2019

By Frederick Kempe

We look back at the Atlantic Council's top work of 2019 galvanizing US leadership alongside partners and allies to tackle the most pressing challenges confronting our nation and our world.

Africa Americas

In the News

Dec 6, 2019

Fried, Vershbow, and Åslund quoted in Axios on Russia under Putin

By Atlantic Council

As Putin reaches nearly twenty years in power, Amb. Alexander Vershbow, former US ambassador to Russia; Amb. Daniel Fried, former US ambassador to Poland; and Anders Åslund, senior fellow, Eurasia Center, speak to Dave Lawler from Axios about what Russia has become under Putin's rule and what its future will look like without him.

Conflict Corruption

Press and members call

Dec 4, 2019

Atlantic Council press call: Unpacking the NATO Leaders’ Meeting

By Atlantic Council

On Wednesday, December 4, transatlantic leaders gather in London for the NATO Leaders' Meeting. Marking the 70th anniversary of the military alliance, the meeting is an opportunity to take stock of NATO’s progress over the last three major summits and discuss how to transform the Alliance for the future. The summit will come at a tense time for the Alliance, with allies divided over issues such as trade, burden-sharing, Syria, and Iran, while the meeting's host country will be only a few days away from a general election. Following the summit and rounding off NATO's historic 70th anniversary year, Amb. Alexander Vershbow, Chris Skaluba, and Andrew Marshall, discuss key takeaways from the Leaders Meeting and priorities for the NATO alliance moving forward.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2019

NATO leaders disperse the storm clouds in London

By David A. Wemer

Despite a litany of high-profile disagreements between allies over the last few weeks, the NATO Leaders’ Meeting in London on December 4 “ended on a very positive note,” with a “pretty substantial declaration and agenda for the future,” according to Alexander Vershbow. The meeting, Vershbow observed, “went in like a lion and out like a lamb.”

NATO

New Atlanticist

Nov 14, 2019

NATO leaders set ambitious agenda for London summit

By David A. Wemer

Edward Ferguson, minister counsellor for defense at the Embassy of the United Kingdom in the United States, said that the Alliance is setting an ambitious agenda for the summit “to show that NATO as a septuagenarian is as fit and virile as ever and to highlight the progress we have made in adapting NATO’s deterrence and defense since the 2014 Wales Summit.”

NATO