United States and Canada

A Mideast Watershed: The End of US Domination?

A 35-Year Pax Americana is waning, says former Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren The recent years’ decline of US power and assertiveness in the Middle East has created a power vacuum there that may end 35 years of American pre-eminence in the region, said Michael Oren, Israeli historian and former ambassador to the United States. “While […]

The Next Chapter in European Presence and Partnerships

By Bruce W. Clingan, US Navy

USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) is heading east, on a course that will make the ship the first of four destroyers to be forward deployed in the Naval Forces Europe operating area.

New Era in French-American Military Cooperation

By François Heisbourg, New York Times

France worries deeply — as do other European and Middle Eastern allies — about America’s foreign policy shift after Iraq and Afghanistan, its reluctance to put American forces in the front line in the world’s trouble spots.

Prospects of Relationship between Cuba and the United States

By Miriam Leiva

(translated from Spanish) Cuba has been used in the confrontation with the United States to isolate Cubans from the outside world, justify the failures of the plans executed by the will of Fidel Castro , violate the rights and suppress any different opinion than that authorized by the government.

Obama and Hollande: France and the US Enjoy a Renewed Alliance

By Barack Obama and François Hollande, Washington Post

Today, American and French diplomats are preparing for talks with Iran that build on the agreement that has halted progress on and rolled back key elements of the Iranian nuclear program.

US Officials Blame Russian Espionage for Leaked Nuland Call

By BuzzFeed, New York Times, and Reuters

From Rosie Gray, BuzzFeed:  Top U.S. officials are strongly suggesting that Russia is responsible for recording and releasing the tape of a phone call between the top U.S. diplomat for Europe and the ambassador to Ukraine.

US Diplomat Apologizes for Profane Remarks on EU

By Washington Post and Department of State

From Anne Gearan, Washington Post:  The top U.S. diplomat for Europe apologized Thursday for comments about the European Union that were — to put it lightly — undiplomatic.

NATO Must Get More Serious on Cyber Security

By Julianne Smith, Chatham House

These are important and critical parts of NATO’s cyber security work but they fail to do two things.

Putin Aide Warns US on Ukraine, Says Russia Could Act

By Alastair Macdonald, Reuters

A senior Kremlin aide accused the United States on Thursday of arming Ukrainian “rebels” and, urging the Kiev government to put down what it called an attempted coup, warned it could intervene to maintain the security of its ex-Soviet neighbor.