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A careful selection and summary of editorials, commentaries, and analyses from the world’s leading newspapers and magazines to help you stay on top of the latest debates and developments in the transatlantic agenda. See list of monitoring sources.
Readers can also see how the perspectives and priorities diverge in different regions.

EU Has Risen to the Occasion

The EU can be proud of achieving a cease-fire between Russia and Georgia. ++ The Caucasus crisis has shown that the EU is able to create a space for diplomacy in order to resolve international conflicts. ++ Much remains to be done if the situation is to be stabilized in the long run but so far the EU has risen to the occasion. ++ Europe made Russia listen by choosing "action and negotiation over rhetoric and mere denunciation." ++ Once the Lisbon Treaty is ratified EU will have even better means to resolve international crises.

Poland is a Fall Guy for US Military Lobbyists

By agreeing to host a US missile defence base Poland, like the UK and Czech Republic, became America’s groundbait and exposed itself to a possiblity of a nuclear attack. ++ In turn, the system is supposed to protect Poland as well. ++ Bad news is, MD will not work for at least another 50 years and it is doubtful if ever at all. ++ There is no rationale behind MD: it is only built to appease military industrial lobbyists who give donations to corrupt politicians. ++ This monstrous scheme can’t achieve what “diplomacy could do in an afternoon.”

"The Russo-Iranian Axis"

Two of the EU's key assumptions towards Russia have been proven wrong: firstly, Russia obviously does not share the Western values and secondly, Russia does not oppose Iran going nuclear. ++ Moscow can assume that a nuclear Iran will hurt Western interests more than Russian and will shape balance of power favorably for Russia. ++ Yet, there is still a chance for the EU to pressure Iran through sanctions, as the Islamic Republic heavily depends on trade with EU countries such as Germany.

Maliki May Get "Difficult" for the US

There are voices among US officials that Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki became overconfident about his government's ability to handle the security situation in Iraq without the US troops and that he wants to portray himself as the national hero who kicked out the US. ++ Domestically, Maliki's Shi'ite-dominated government no longer depends on the US and seems to be more and more unwilling to advocate the Sunni's interests in Iraq. ++ Maliki may become a difficult partner for the US and give way to Shi'ite typical anti-Americanism.

Burnish Legacies with Intensive Peace Effort

There is a wide gap between declarations that a two-state solution is vital for Israel’s security, and actually doing something about it. ++ Both Olmert and Bush have a few months left in offices: they will not go down in history as great leaders, but can still burnish their legacies by truly engaging in the peace effort. ++ They should freeze the expansion of Jewish settlements, cease strangling Palestinian economy with roadblocks and press Hamas toward a more responsible position that would make it an acceptable negotiating partner.

Hobbled by Iraq

The war in Iraq eroded not only US strength but also its moral authority and sense of purpose. ++ Iraq strains the US army to such a extent that it is not left with forces sufficient to stabilize Afghanistan. ++ Moreover, critics of the US administration emphazise the lack of justification of the US-lead invasion and doubt that the US is still in the position to e.g. excoriate Russia. ++ But as the Caucasus crisis shows, there is no other power that could replace the US: it needs to overcome Iraq and provide global leadership again.

NATO Must Put its Foot Down

NATO foreign ministers are meeting tomorrow in Brussels to decide on further actions regarding the crisis in Georgia. ++ To prevent further instability, they should reassure those members who fear Russia that atlantic mutual-defence commitments are real and make new defense arrangements that would deter Russia. ++ They must also speed up the enlargement process and bring in Ukraine and the southern Caucasus: NATO must embrace countries whose survival is at stake, even if they don’t fulfil the usual membership criteria.

"Turn Left for Growth"

In times of elections, it becomes obvious that both the right and the left promise the same thing which is economic growth. ++ However, the growth strategies and the ideas about the role of the state differ from each other. ++ The right-wing assumption that in the long run markets are "self-correcting" was proven wrong by recent developments in the US economy. ++ Therefore, the left has a more coherent agenda today, one that offers higher economic growth, as well as social justice. ++ Voters should think about this before election day.

Iran Gambles with Russia-Georgia Conflict

Iran remains mute on Georgia crisis. ++ US-Russia rift could spoil Iran Six negotiations; or increase Russia's engagement. ++ Historical ties to Georgia and more recent fears of Russian aggressiveness should lead Iran to condemn this violation of Georgian sovereignty. ++ Tehran needs to act as an impartial mediator. ++ An adverse effect on Russian-Iranian relations has to be risked. ++ Post-9/11 US-invasions and Russia's exercise of power substantially the same ++ Georgia and the failure of Doha show resurging Cold War bifurcations.

The World Needs an "Arctic Authority"

The Arctic Circle contains 13 percent of the world's untapped oil supplies. ++ But a clash of interests between businesses, NGOs, and the five different governments who claim rights to the region's energy resources is likely to cause a delay in drilling. ++ Existing international institutions cannot deal with the impending disputes. ++ Therefore, an "Arctic Authority" is required to make executive decisions on rules relating to the exploration and distribution of the energy sources. ++ Once again, global cooperation is crucial.