Asia-Pacific Ben Hartley

Xi’s Ticket to Ride

By: Ben Hartley While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) constitutes the basis for single party rule in China, the internal political dynamics that govern succession politics create a balance between diverging opinions within the party that have allowed for China’s long-term stability in governance and economic growth. Set to undergo the first major leadership succession Read More…

Pavle Levkovic

Will the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border be Reopened to NATO?

Following months in which the United States has been prevented from moving Afghanistan-bound supplies through Pakistan, a change in the political climate may once again open the southern transport route to this key NATO member. Even though the route is of diminishing strategic importance to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, it represents the first step Read More…

Uncategorized

German Politician Manfred Woerner Discovered Ukraine for NATO 20 Years Back

By Serhii Dzherdzh  2012 is rich in dates and events that commemorate Ukraine-NATO relations, above all the 20th anniversary of Ukraine’s first contact with the North Atlantic Alliance. January 22-23, 1992, NATO Secretary Manfred Woerner first visited Kyiv and Ukraine was invited to join the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NNCC). It was then Ukraine started Read More…

Amina Abdullayeva Eastern Europe and Russia

Russian Foreign Policy is Taking a Disturbing Shape

By: Amina Abdullayeva Russia has seen its fair share of domestic turmoil this week as crowds took to the streets to protest falsified parliamentary elections. Such activity on the part of thousands of ordinary citizens had not been seen since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Mass agitations are often emblematic of notable socio-political changes, Read More…

Alexander Corbeil The Middle East and North Africa

The Syrian Uprising: Signs of a Protracted Military Conflict

By: Alexander Corbeil The Syrian crisis has entered into its eleventh and bloodiest month, with roughly 8,000 dead and no end in sight. The Free Syrian Army (FSA), though under heavy barrage in Homs, continues to provide stiff resistance against President Bashir al-Assad. Damascus’s security forces and elements of the military have proven their loyalty Read More…

Asia-Pacific Western Europe

Beyond Trade: Establishing a European Presence in Asia

By: Jason Naselli from the Atlantic Community – Berlin. At Issue: The European Union must reach out to Asian partners and become a credible player on issues other than trade. A strong EU-Asia policy can contribute to stability and advance Europe’s overall political, economic, and security interests. Atlantic Community members and regional experts believe that the European Union Read More…

Western Europe

Goodbye to EU Prestige Thinking: Redefining the CSDP

By: Jason Naselli  from the Atlantic Community – Berlin. At Issue: The EU must restructure its Common Security and Defence Policy based on economic and operational realities. It should emphasize narrow, logistically feasible operations over broad outlines, clearly delineate its partnership with NATO, and take a longer term view when developing operational strategies. All of the recommendations in this memo come Read More…

Western Europe

Security Despite Austerity: Improving Europe’s Defense

By: Amrit Naresh from the Atlantic Community – Berlin. At Issue: Europe’s defense sector needs reform. To cut costs and improve capabilities, states should consolidate national priorities to enhance political cooperation, streamline their administrative structures, further integrate their militaries and create an open defense market across the EU. Recognizing that Europe’s defense ministries must cut spending to stay within Read More…

3. Events Calendar

March 15, 2012

Toronto Roundtable: Re-evaluating the Afghan Balance of Power and Culture of Jihad The NATO Council of Canada is pleased to announce that Major John J. Malevich will be giving a talk on “Re-evaluating the Afghan Balance of Power and Culture of Jihad.” Major Malevich is currently a Program Director, Counter-Insurgency & Counter-Terrorism at the Canadian Forces Read More…

Alexander Corbeil The Middle East and North Africa

A “Militiaous” Turn of Events in Libya

By: Alexander Corbeil Clashes in Tripoli last week between rival militias from Zintan and Misrata highlight a disturbing trend in post-Gaddafi Libya. With the powerful tyrant now dead and his forces thwarted by a combined Libyan-NATO effort, a power vacuum has emerged. The National Transition Council’s leader Mustafa Abdel-Jalil warned that Libya faced “bitter options” Read More…