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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.

The West Must Treat Developing Countries as Partners

The financial relevance of the G7 has diminished, from 65% of production in 2002 to 52% now, and will continue to fall. ++ In 2009 all growth will happen in developing nations. ++ The support of China, India, and Brazil is needed to resolve this crisis, and the G20 is the space for solutions. ++ The West is failing on global trade, climate change, and development aid. ++ Progress on the immediate crisis should lead to work on other problems. ++ Western leaders must not patronize those from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Robert Gates: Coordination Needed in Afghanistan

Operations in Afghanistan are hamstrung by limitations placed on forces from different nations. ++ Many willing to provide troops lack money or have political constraints. ++ Soldiers are needed not only on the battlefield but also to train security forces, yet "our own security toolbox must be equipped with more than just hammers." ++ Coordination with EU, NGOs and Afghan government is needed, as is the creation of new institutions. ++ US policies were built for a different era and need to adapt to current multinational civil-military operations.

Revitalizing EU-Russian Partnership

The EU and Russia will meet for an annual meeting, focusing on the renewal of their partnership agreement. ++ Since the attacks on Georgia, EU-Russian relations have been shattered. ++ Europeans will not accept a divided Georgia. ++ The EU will have to be open to compromise, considering its dependency on Russian energy, but Russia will also have to make concessions in view of its dependency on exports of renewable ressources. ++ Both partners have to show their willingness to cooperate in order to develop neeeded concensus on Georgia. 

Aid and Fatwas to Calm Pakistani Militants

A Washington plan to involve the Pakistani government in the War on Terror has failed. ++ To handle the situation, US General Petraeus has given Saudi Arabia control over aid to Pakistan. ++ It is hoped that a series of religious decrees against terrorism and a continued debate on inter-religious dialogue with Saudi support will reach troubled areas in Pakistan. ++ Saudi involvement risks pulling them into a quagmire of politics and military action. ++ However, the US, Saudis and Pakistanis engaging militants individually can have results.

IMF Stands for Global Economy Insurance

Uninsured drivers need to save big for car crashes; nations have done that to prepare for financial crashes. ++ However, every-country-for-itself policies are wasteful and inflate credit bubbles. ++ The IMF was everyone’s insurance after Bretton Woods but it has not kept up with the crash costs. ++ Government payments should be tripled to make the IMF bigger and to help unavoidable crashes like in Brazil. ++ The IMF should also be more powerful to avoid political manipulation by nations like China who have ample reserves.

China Can Rescue the World

China can revive the world economy by strengthening its consumption. ++ Its industrial development has been shaped by US consumer demand and “US consumption has in turn been fueled by Chinese lending that kept interest rates low.” ++ This circle is broken - the US economy is in a recession and the Chinese are failing to fill the gap. ++ China has the resources to undertake stimulus programs. ++ Social spending will have the strongest impact. ++ It will intensify public and private consumption by strengthening the social welfare system.

Zero is the Goal

Obama’s foreign policy challenges are just that, challenges. ++ Complicating matters, there are many; but none have the same potential upside as the challenge of fulfilling his election pledge to "make the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide a central element of US nuclear policy." ++ There are two steps, each equally daunting: recognized nuclear states must eliminate their nuclear arsenals – “zero is the goal.” ++ Second, an international regime must be established to cover “the production, storage and use of all nuclear fuel.”

The Legacy of Rwanda

The situation in Eastern Congo is becoming untenable; without the assistance of the 3,000 more peacekeepers being called for by United Nations officials, the situation will become even more desperate. ++ The 17,000 international peacekeepers already in place are considered “the single most important factor preventing the full collapse of state authority.” ++ The Security Council, which is “shamefully failing to act,” must heed its promises following the Rwandan Genocide. ++ After all, "has the world forgotten so quickly?”

Bush, Obama Should Push for Trade Agreements

In the upcoming lame duck session of Congress, Bush and Obama should insist to vote on the outstanding free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama. ++ The election put these pacts on the back burner, but the sooner deals are made to beat out competition from Canada and the EU, the more it will benefit US manufacturing. ++ US geopolitics in the “war on drugs” and competition with Venezuela are also at stake. ++ Obama’s approval of a Colombian FTA would help save the economy and allow Bush “do the heavy lifting.”

"An End to the Russian Chill"

In 2003 the EU created a “security strategy;” the first draft didn’t even mention Russia. ++ For better or worse, it’s time to revise that plan. ++ The one good side effect from the war with Georgia is that it allowed Merkel and Sarkozy, “the only EU leaders with the independence of mind to declare that European and US strategic interests often diverge,” the opportunity to legitimately question NATO expansion. ++ As EU talks with Russia over a new cooperation agreement resume, Obama should be leery of continuing “Bush's provocations.”