United States and Canada

NATO’s hidden strengths

By Daniel Nexon, the Duck of Minerva

From Daniel Nexon, the Duck of Minerva:  [C]urrent defense cuts make clear NATO’s ongoing importance to Europe. By co-binding virtually the entire Atlantic and European Community, whether through direct NATO integration or the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program, NATO has created an unprecedented security community. Every major power (save one) on the continent has interoperable […]

Turkey’s relationship with west on the line in missile defence negotiations

By Praveen Swami, the Telegraph

NATO members not providing 900 trainers for Afghanistan

By Patrick Markey, Reuters

From Patrick Markey, Reuters:  NATO training chief Lieutenant General William Caldwell said his mission was short of 900 instructors, mostly in the police, but also to train Afghans to become independent of NATO in areas such as logistics, maintenance, transport and medical services.

Hamid Karzai criticises Russian drug raid

By Ben Farmer, the Telegraph

Turkey not partner but owner of NATO, FM says

By Fulya Ozerkan, Hurriyet

From Fulya Ozerkan, Hurriyet:  Turkey is not a partner, but an owner of NATO, Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said Saturday, adding that an agreement within the multi-national alliance is as important as an accord within the European Union. Speaking to a small group of journalists en route from Xi’an to Shanghai as part of his weeklong […]

Closer Anglo-French cooperation will make NATO stronger

By Liam Fox, the Telegraph

From Liam Fox, the Telegraph:  [T]his week will mark the beginning of a long-term commitment to closer cooperation on defence and security projects with France our most important bilateral defence relationship in Europe. The aim of this week’s summit will be to strengthen the relationship at all levels and foster closer cooperation in a number […]

Russia, US collaborate in Afghan drug raid

By the AP

From the AP: U.S. and Russian drug control agencies have raided heroin and opium labs in Afghanistan in an unprecedented collaborative bust, destroying $250 million worth of drugs, officials said Friday. Afghan forces also were involved in the raid on four laboratories near the Pakistan border, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said on customary condition of anonymity. […]

Why Is Osama bin Laden Going After the French?

By Andrew Lebovich, Foreign Policy

From Andrew Lebovich, Foreign Policy:  Yesterday, in an audio recording released to Qatar-based news station Al Jazeera, al Qaeda Central leader Osama bin Laden for the first time singled out France as a target of attack

US and Turkey clash looms over Nato

By the Financial Times

From the Financial Times:   The US and Turkey are trying to stave off a clash at next month’s Nato summit after a year in which Ankara’s traditional ties to the west were strained.

Raytheon chooses Turkey’s Aselsan as key Patriot supplier

By Umit Enginsoy, Hurriyet

From Umit Enginsoy, Hurriyet:  U.S. missile maker Raytheon has entered into an agreement with Turkey’s top military electronics manufacturer, Aselsan, for the co-development of a major end item for the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, the U.S. firm has said. Under the agreement, Raytheon will subcontract to Aselsan the co-development of the antenna mast […]