United States and Canada

Better to share Britain’s second carrier with NATO?

By David Manning and Franklin Miller, the Financial Times

Ashton Warns Europe it is Losing Influence in US

By Stephen Castle, the New York Times

From Stephen Castle, the New York Times:  In her first major report on foreign policy, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, acknowledged that Washington was focusing less on Europe, and warned that the bloc would need to show more unity if it hoped to change that dynamic.

Germany Will Begin Afghan Exit Next Year

By Judy Dempsey and Matthew Saltmarsh, the New York Times

From Judy Dempsey and Matthew Saltmarsh, the New York Times:  Germany, which has the third largest military force in Afghanistan, will start withdrawing its 4,800 troops as early as next year, ending its mission there by 2014

Creating the Demand Curve for Cybersecurity

By Melissa Hathaway

In the latest Program on International Security Issue Brief “Creating the Demand Curve for Cybersecurity,” Melissa Hathaway, the former White House official who led President Obama’s Cyberspace Policy Review, argues for a new approach to cybersecurity in the absence of additional financial resources and greater Congressional constraints.Download the PDF

China Expands Its Influence in Europe

By Wieland Wagner, Spiegel

From Wieland Wagner, Spiegel: [T]he rising superpower is cleverly capitalizing on the euro crisis to extend its long-term political and economic influence in Europe.

NATO success in Kandahar and commitment of troops until 2014 shifting Afghan support

By Carlotta Gall and Ruhullah Khapalwak, the New York Times

From Carlotta Gall and Ruhullah Khapalwak, the New York Times:  As the Obama administration reviews its strategy in Afghanistan, residents and even a Taliban commander say the surge of American troops this year has begun to set back the Taliban in parts of their southern heartland and to turn people against the insurgency — at […]

NATO chief appoints US defense official as deputy

By the AP

From the AP:  NATO’s secretary-general says he will appoint Alexander Vershbow, the current U.S. assistant secretary of defense for international security, as his next deputy.

Command and Control Questions Divide NATO-Russia Missile Defense Plans

By Fred Weir, the Christian Science Monitor

From Fred Weir, the Christian Science Monitor:  Media reports that the two sides reached a deal at the Lisbon summit were premature, if not wrong.

Change of Command in NATO Counter Piracy Task Force

By Allied Command Operations

Police probe Stockholm blasts as act of terrorism

By Mia Shanley and Niklas Pollard, Reuters

From Mia Shanley and Niklas Pollard, Reuters:  Police said on Sunday they were treating bomb blasts in Stockholm as an act of terrorism by a lone attacker that followed an emailed threat referring to Sweden’s troops in Afghanistan and to cartoons of Mohammad. Police stopped short of calling Saturday afternoon’s blasts, which killed the suspected […]