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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.

NATO Needs to Evolve

NATO will be 60 next year - a retirement age for most under its command. ++ If it does not want to become redundant it needs to rethink its structure and "streamline its command and control systems in conflict zones." ++ NATO officials must decide if they should work towards a strong EU defence capability. ++ Georgia and Ukraine are on their way to membership, but there is still a need for the alliance to evolve faster. ++ Recent Russian aggression illustrates the need for effective collective security structures.

The Comeback of Autocracies

The reemergence of autocracy and great-power politics questions the stability of the international liberal order. ++ Unfortunately, Europe's postmodern tools of foreign policy are not able to counter Russia in the latest conflict between liberal democracy and autocracy. ++ Facing the rise of great-power autocracies, democracies turn back in the direction of the US. ++ Despite predictions of decline, the US still has the power and ability to lead world's democracies; together they should think about how to protect their principles.

The US Must Choose Between Georgia and Russia

Russia's use of force in the Caucasus is fully legitimized by its right to self-defense and international law. ++ The US has to acknowledge that brutality against a civilian population is not justified simply because the Georgian government calls itself "democratic." ++ Russia advocates a peaceful resolution and the implementation of the Medvedev-Sarkozy plan. ++ It also wants good bilateral relations with the US, but Washington must make a choice: it can either support a discredited regime or cooperate with Russia.

Arab States must Integrate Iraq

There is a trend among Sunni Arab states to revitalize diplomatic ties with Iraq. ++ The growing Shia influence backed by Iran may have alarmed them. ++ But instead of pressuring the US to ensure the Sunni's reinsertion into Iraqi politics, Arab officials now try to integrate Iraq's Shia government back into "the Arab fold." ++ Unfortunately, the efforts can not be successful if Saudi-Arabia will not participate in the engagement. ++ Nonetheless, supporting Iraq's Shia-led government could strengthen the country and enhance its stability.

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.