United States and Canada

Spain to host U.S. missile defense ships

By David Brunnstrom and David Alexander, Reuters

From David Brunnstrom and David Alexander, Reuters:  The United States and Spain announced an agreement on Wednesday to base U.S. anti-missile warships at Rota on the Spanish coast, strengthening U.S.-led plans for a NATO-wide missile defense system in Europe.

Panetta outlines key concerns to be addressed at NATO’s Chicago Summit

By Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense

From Leon Panetta, U.S. Department of Defense:  These are the concerns that we must work together to address as we look towards the NATO Summit next May in Chicago.  Ideally, we will be able to halt additional cuts in defense or at a minimum keep defense spending at current levels.

Three reasons why NATO defense cooperation will not succeed at the Chicago Summit

By James Blitz, the Financial Times

From James Blitz, the Financial Times:  Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato’s secretary-general, wants to tackle waning defence capability head on. In a speech last week he set out a programme for what he calls “Smart Defence”.

Le Monde Editor: “The longstanding terms of the old military relationship within the West between America and Europe have ended”

By the European Institute

From the European Institute:  So what does Libya show about Western military cooperation in trying to control future conflicts even against minor rogue states?  It shows that NATO without the U.S. cannot handle an expeditionary war even on the scale of Libya

Secretary General’s four goals for NATO Summit in Chicago

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

 From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Security is not an optional extra – even in times of austerity.  It’s not a luxury – it’s a vital necessity.

A New Atlanticism

By John C. Kornblum, atlantic-community.org

 From John C. Kornblum, atlantic-community.org:  One often meets Europeans these days who say their belief in Europe was nothing but an illusion. The EU is experiencing a serious crisis of confidence among its citizens. Equally worrisome is the growing loss of confidence by its essential protector, the United States.

Behind Qatar’s Intervention In Libya

By David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs

From David B. Roberts, Foreign Affairs:  Qatar’s actions in Libya took most analysts by surprise when, in March, it sent six Mirage fighter jets (which likely represented the majority of Qatar’s operational fighter strength) to join in NATO air operations.

Why Turkey will continue to remain a committed member of the Atlantic Alliance

By Avnish Patel, Royal United Services Institute

America’s Fourth and Most Testing Epoch?

By Harlan Ullman

In life, people inexorably move from infancy to adulthood and on to old age in a series of significant chronological milestones. Countries are obviously not people. But states also pass through stages that mark fundamental transition points and new epochs in their histories, sometimes knowingly, sometimes not. And sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. […]