Editorial Team: Join Atlantic Community for our next Q&A with General Stéphane Abrial, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. We invite you to ask questions about NATO’s ongoing efforts to implement “Smart Defense” and share your own thoughts on how to handle transformation in the 21st century.
... More
Nico Segers: The military rise of China is raising concerns over provocative naval pursuits in the East Chinese, South Chinese and adjacent seas. Escalations about disputed areas with Vietnam and the Philippines puts stress on wider Sino-American relationships and may block further military-to-military dialogue.
... More
Ambassador Victoria Nuland: “Europe needs, the United States needs, NATO needs, the democratic world needs – a stronger, more capable European defense capacity.”
... More
The financial crisis has hit the defense budgets of NATO members. With no prospects for an economic upturn in sight, NATO has been urging its members to save money through specialization and collaboration, under the ‘smart defense’ initiative. But smart defense has proven difficult given that governments fear giving up certain national capabilities and choose the political safer route of
... More
An EU plan to create a defense-planning headquarters in Brussels has been met with harsh opposition in Britain. ++ As European countries struggle to balance budgets, British politicians see the proposed European project as costly and unnecessary. ++ While the UK is willing to play a central role in NATO’s foreign and defense policy, it is increasingly distancing itself from European
... More
The “special relationship” between the UK and US has become “a rather pathetic British conceit”. ++ In light of severe defense cuts that will see tanks and artillery cut by 40 percent, Britain no longer has the military “mass” to justify its reputation as a vital US ally. ++ In turn, London has lost confidence in nearly all its European partners besides France.
... More
News that the Pentagon wants to cut defense spending by 10 percent should be met with resistance by Obama. ++ Defense offers a clear means of stimulating the economy in tough times. ++ A reduction in spending would only fuel fears among allies about America’s decline and simultaneously feed enemies’ confidence that the moment is right to strike. ++ Anyone who thinks Obama ran his
... More
News that the Pentagon wants to cut defense spending by 10 percent should be met with resistance by Obama. ++ Defense offers a clear means of stimulating the economy in tough times. ++ A reduction in spending would only fuel fears among allies about America’s decline and simultaneously feed enemies’ confidence that the moment is right to strike. ++ Anyone who thinks Obama ran his
... More
Poles, Czechs and Hungarians should be under no illusion that they can count on the US in case of a crisis. ++ In the past the US used to leave its Eastern European allies in the lurch and its recent reaction to Georgia’s plight was no different. ++ The only thing that the frontline states can do is to count on themselves. ++ They should make a larger commitment to their own defense,
... More
Rather than focusing on force levels, debates about burden-sharing within NATO should look at “defense transformation, operations, and the wider context of the international community’s efforts.” ++ While burden-sharing faces many challenges, more equality is possible through common funding, “transformation efforts to increase the pool of usable and deployable forces,” and increased multinational
... More
