United States and Canada

Defence cuts: French and US jets to use British Navy aircraft carriers

By Andy Bloxham and James Kirkup, the Telegraph

UK’s Cameron announces military austerity plan

By David Stringer, the AP

From David Stringer, the AP:  Britain will lose thousands of troops, slash weapons programs and likely delay a major project to upgrade its nuclear-armed submarine fleet following a once-in-a-decade defense review being published Tuesday

Latvia hosts “Sabre Strike 2011” multinational exercise

By the Ministry of Defense of Latvia

From the Ministry of Defense of Latvia:   "Sabre Strike 2011” – the joint multinational military training of land forces and air forces – will be held in Ādaži Training Area (ATA) and adjacent regional areas from October 17 to 31.

British Intell Chief: “Cyberspace is contested every day, every hour, every minute, very second.”

By the International Institute for Strategic Studies

From the International Institute for Strategic Studies:  On 12 October 2010 Iain Lobban, Director of the UK Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) urged greater awareness of the threats posed by cyber attacks in a speech at the IISS in London.

Turkey’s conditions for NATO missile defense

By Zaman

From Zaman:  Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül, who held talks with his counterparts from the US and other allied countries during a NATO meeting in Brussels on Thursday, told reporters in Ankara on Friday that the ongoing talks were on how to “NATO-ize” the missile shield plans

Triple Crown 2010: Can the Transatlantic Alliance be Strategic?

By Marc Grossman

Former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Atlantic Council Board Director Marc Grossman encourages the Obama Administration to view the bureaucratic challenge of managing the upcoming NATO, U.S.-EU and OSCE summits as an opportunity to create a more coherent, strategic transatlantic relationship that maximizes the capabilities of all three organizations. Download the PDF

Clinton and Gates meet with Turkish leaders to discuss missile defense vote and radar base

By Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post

From Craig Whitlock, the Washington Post:  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with their Turkish counterparts on the sidelines of the NATO meeting Thursday to discuss whether Turkey will allow a high-powered X-band radar on its territory.

Hillary Clinton’s warning to Britain over cuts in defence budget

By James Kirkup, the Telegraph

From James Kirkup, the Telegraph:  Barack Obama’s government has delivered a stark public warning against major cuts in the British defence budget, suggesting that they would undermine Nato and strain the Special Relationship.

Ahead of NATO talks, Gates warns on defense cuts

By Phil Stewart, Reuters

From Phil Stewart, Reuters: U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates said ahead of talks with NATO allies Thursday that he was concerned by defence spending cuts in Europe that threatened to put more pressure on an increasingly stretched U.S. military.

Are Allied forces in Afghanistan protecting Europe from terrorist attacks?

By Con Coughlin, the Wall Street Journal

From Con Coughlin, the Wall Street Journal:  If ever there was a compelling argument for not withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan, it is the State Department’s latest terror-threat warning to American citizens that al Qaeda is planning a fresh wave of attacks in Europe.