United States and Canada

Baltic leaders thank US for Cold War stance

By DPA

From DPA:  Leaders of the Baltic states thanked the United States on Friday for refusing to recognize their countries’ annexation by the Soviet Union during and after World War II. The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania sent a joint letter to President Barack Obama expressing their gratitude for the US decision, which was […]

Counterpoint: On Missile Defense

By Richard Weitz, the International Herald Tribune

From Richard Weitz, the International Herald Tribune:  In their thoughtful article published Thursday in the International Herald Tribune, Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov and Wolfgang Ischinger argue that missile defense cooperation among Americans, Russians and Europeans offers the greatest near-term potential for overcoming NATO-Russian divisions and creating a more inclusive security system in Europe.

The F-35 fighter and Canada’s international commitments

By Andre Gerolymatos, the Vancouver Sun

From Andre Gerolymatos, the Vancouver Sun:  Fundamentally, the Canadian Air Force has not only commitments to NATO but also to Norad (North American Aerospace Defence Command). Beyond the obvious advantages in advanced technology that the sub-contracting of the construction of the F-35 will yield for Canadian companies, Canada’s warplanes must be able to keep up […]

France says too soon to talk of Afghan pullout

By Reuters

U.N. Court Rules Kosovo Declaration Was Legal

By Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times

From Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times:  Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008 did not violate international law, the United Nations’ highest court said Thursday in a ruling that Kosovo heralded as a victory but that legal experts warned could spur separatist movements around the world.

Britain’s coalition government attacked over withdrawal plans

By Alex Barker, James Blitz, and George Parker, the Financial Times

Obama strategist: ‘the durability of this mission has to be attended to’

By David E. Sanger, the New York Times

From David E. Sanger, the New York Times:  When President Obama announced a new strategy for Afghanistan in December, he argued that by setting a deadline of next summer to begin drawing down troops he would create a sense of urgency for the Afghan government to take the lead in the fight, while acknowledging the […]

All Together Now: Missile Defense

By Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov, and Wolfgang Ischinger, the International Herald Tribune

From Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov, and Wolfgang Ischinger, the International Herald Tribune:  No other initiative has more near-term potential to ease the NATO-Russian relationship out of its petulant, impacted state, while giving a positive jolt to the revived but tentative and unfocused interest in an improved and more inclusive European security system, than missile-defense cooperation. Were […]

Turkey: The sentinel swivels

By Delphine Strauss and David Gardner, the Financial Times

NATO official reveals heated exchange between Gen. Petraeus and Secretary General

By Marc Tran and Jon Boone, the Guardian

From Marc Tran and Jon Boone, the Guardian:  Plans to begin handing control of provinces to Afghan security forces by the end of this year have been quietly dropped amid fears among European countries that Petraeus is less committed to a speedy transfer of power. The change of tack, revealed in the final communique from […]