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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.

Eastern Europe Can Only Count on Itself

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, staring with doubling their – currently very low – military spending. ++ This would make them “porcupine states that even the Russian bear can't swallow.”

Create a United Nonaligned Caucasus

The conflict in South Ossetia is one of many explosive ethnic disputes in the region. ++ These are especially dangerous because of the absence of a superior security pact. ++ Therefore, the best way to enhance the security situation would be if the European Union, Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the US agreed on a pact which would create a nonaligned and neutral Caucasus. ++ This would contradict Georgia's aspiration to become a NATO member, but would ensure future peace in the region.

The US Can no Longer be the Importer of Last Resort

At the moment when most of the industrial world is in or near recession, a lot of global economic momentum comes from authoritarian regimes that concentrate on accumulating wealth rather than on raising the standard of life of their people. ++ Rising prices of oil are causing a substantial flow of capital from the emerging countries to the industrial ones. ++ With the economic slowdown it experiences, however, the US is no longer in a position to be the “importer of last resort” it used to be and it is unclear who will be its successor.

Ukraine Will Not Cede to Russian Power

The conflict in Georgia has exposed the dangers of ignoring "frozen conflicts" as well as the UN’s lack of helpful precautionary tools. ++ The absence of democracy and free media in breakaway regions breeds corruption and human rights abuses, posing a threat to the development of adjacent nations. ++ Wider international representation is the only way to successful peacekeeping. ++ Ukraine is a hostage in the war waged by Russia but upholds its support for Georgia and will continue following the path of Euro-Atlantic integration.

China's Struggle for Soft Power

The successful staging of the Olympics is extra important to Beijing as increasing its "soft power" is one of China's major objectives. ++ Though domestic corruption and lack of democracy makes China attractive in authoritarian and semi-authoritarian developing countries, it undermines its soft power in the West. ++ A recent Pew poll proves that despite China's efforts, the US continues to dominate in all soft power categories. ++ It is time for China's rulers to accept "the importance of free expression to creating soft power."

West Should Concentrate on Russian Oligarchs

A sharp consensus between Europe and the US emerged at the NATO summit that they can not deal with Russia as usual. ++ Regarding the question what to do instead, one answer could be: concentrate on Russian oligarchs. ++ They have close ties with Putin, but also operate globally and depend on Western capital markets, Western consumers and foreign bank accounts. ++ Beside measures such as denying Russia membership of the WTO, the West should also consider unconventional means in order to oppose Russia.

US Is Better Off Without Musharraf

Musharraf's resignation as president allows the country to move toward full democracy and this process should not be seen as a threat in Washington. ++ With Musharraf's exit the "war against terror will in fact be pursued with much more vigor and much less political manipulation" and anti-Americanism among the Pakistani population is likely to decline. ++ Now, US-Pakistani relations have the opportunity to turn into a much more durable and stable alliance between the both contries as nations sharing democratic values and economic interests.

An Attack on Iran Would Backfire

A strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, whether by the US or Israel, is a disastrous idea. ++ If Iran is attacked oil prices may rise to $200 a barrel which would be a hard hit for the global economy. ++ Iranian nuclear facilities are too widely dispersed to be fully destroyed by warplanes, which means an attack would only delay the progress towards getting a bomb; it is also likely to harden Tehran's resolve to achieve nuclear capabilities. ++ The US must eat humble pie and stop trying to extend its imperial hegemony.

End of Stalemate in Missile Defence Negotiations

Even though both Washington and Warsaw deny it, it was the Russian attack on Georgia that broke the stalemate in negotiations and pushed Polish government towards signing the missile defence treaty on Wednesday. ++ A garrison of American soldiers who will protect the US Patriot air defense battery on the Polish territory is supposed to act as a tripwire - any Russian attack on the MD system would be likely to kill US soldiers thus giving Washington an excuse to intervene on Poland`s behalf in case of a Russian-Polish conflict.

NATO Is Losing in Afghanistan

Instead of demonstrating the noble character of NATO, the so called "good war" in Afghanistan is running out of control. ++ The death toll is rising inexorably, the security situation for aid agencies and women deteriorates and the local population is turning more and more against the Alliance. ++ The only way to resolve the conflict is to withdraw the foreign troops and start negotiating a political settlement with all significant actors, including the Taliban, and guaranteed by the regional powers and neighbouring states.