United States and Canada

Arms Talks Now Turn to Tactical Nuclear Weapons

By Peter Baker, the New York Times

From Peter Baker, the New York Times:  Fresh from winning Senate approval for a new strategic arms treaty, President [Barack] Obama plans to return to the negotiating table with Russia next year in hopes of securing the first legal limits ever imposed on the smaller, battlefield nuclear weapons viewed as most vulnerable to theft or […]

Senate ratifies New START

By Mary Beth Sheridan and William Branigin, the Washington Post

From Mary Beth Sheridan and William Branigin, the Washington Post:  The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved a new nuclear arms-reduction treaty with Russia, the broadest such pact between the former Cold War foes in nearly two decades.

The “Donilon Doctrine” and Transatlantic Relations under Obama

By Jason Horowitz, the Washington Post

From Jason Horowitz, the Washington Post:  [Tom] Donilon has completed a metamorphosis three decades in the making, rising to the position of President [Barack] Obama‘s national security adviser and the patron saint of staffers.

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.