Americas

Putin Says Russia Needs to Beef Up Arctic Presence

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, AP

President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said the U.S. navy’s capability in the Arctic is a key reason for Russia to beef up its presence in the region.

Anarchy at Door, West Starts to Rebuild Libyan Army

By Patrick Markey, Reuters

Turkey, Italy, and Britain are leading the way with promises to train around 8,000 troops and police in skills from infantry basics to forensics. Other recruits are graduating from programs in Jordan.

US Plan for New, Western-Trained Libyan Force Faces Obstacles

By Abigail Hauslohner and Karen DeYoung, Washington Post

At the request of Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, the United States, Britain and Italy have agreed to train 5,000 to 8,000 troops, many of whom will be drawn from existing militias.

Spotlight Colombia: December 5

By Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

How might the FARC peace negotiations impact Colombia’s presidential election? President Barack Obama emphasized “the tremendous progress that’s taken place in Colombia” after meeting with President Juan Manuel Santos at the White House on December 3. His comments come at a pivotal moment as Colombia enters an electoral season. Download PDF

Northrop Grumman Begins Building Drones for NATO’s AGS Program

By April M. Havens, Gulf Live

Many NATO countries have “a crying need” for the capabilities that will be provided by five unmanned aircraft being built by Northrop Grumman Corp., NATO’s Jim Edge said today.

Majority of Americans Disapprove of Obama’s Handling of Foreign Policy

By Pew Research Center

Foreign policy, once a relative strength for President Obama, has become a target of substantial criticism. By a 56% to 34% margin more disapprove than approve of his handling of foreign policy.

Atlantic Council Hosts Colombian President Santos

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 3, 2013 CONTACT Taleen Ananianpress@AtlanticCouncil.org, 202.778.4993 WASHINGTON — The Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center this evening hosted Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for a private dinner with US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker; US Congressmen Eliot Engel, and Gregory Meeks; and other decision-makers. The dinner was co-chaired by former […]

Obama Refocuses on Asia

By Robert A. Manning

Sometimes foreign-policy success occurs almost inadvertently—and when least expected. When President Obama cancelled his planned visit to Asia in October during the recent US government shutdown, doubts amongst many in the region over the durability of the US “pivot” to Asia reached a crescendo. But a cascade of recent events, highlighted by B-52s defying a Chinese air-defense identification […]

Latin America Center Hosts Colombian President

By Jason Marczak

In his second official US visit, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos joined top policymakers and business leaders for an off-the-record working dinner at the Atlantic Council on December 3. The private event was co-chaired by three former National Security Advisers: General Colin Powell, Stephen Hadley, and Samuel Berger.

President Obama Meets Colombia’s President Santos at the White House

READ MORE LatAmSource: Santos Dinner at the Council Santos, Powell, Other Dignitaries at Dinner President Obama and President Juan Manuel Santos of Columbia spoke to the press after their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. The two leaders discussed cooperation on promoting citizen security, respect for human rights, and economic prosperity for all Colombians, as […]