Robert Gates and the Future of NATO
In what has been termed his last major policy speech as Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates blasted NATO members for not carrying their weight within the Alliance, and questioned the viability and relevance of the Alliance going forward. While NATO’s path has been questioned before, Gates’ exceedingly strong words were aimed at multiple audiences – both foreign and domestic – and hit home at the imbalance of commitments amongst Alliance members. Please find below a selection of the range of reactions to Secretary Gates’ speech from both sides of the Atlantic.
Germany’s Exit from History?
Buffeted by European and global headwinds, many in Germany wish for their country to “exit from history” and chart a more peaceful and insular course. But as Ludger Kühnhardt, Director at the Center for European Integration Studies at Universität Bonn and a regular contributor to the Advisor, argues, Germany can only engineer a good future for its people as an engine of further European integration, as a partner of the United States and as a defender of universal human rights. This essay originally appeared in the June 14, 2011, edition of The Globalist.
Of Legacy and Leadership
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes discusses Chancellor Merkel’s upcoming visit to Washington and how the past legacies of German-American relations can be transformed into opportunities for the future.
The May 22 Election in Bremen – AGI Coverage
Another Land election, another historical result for the Greens: For the first time ever, the Greens bested the CDU, coming in a strong second in the May 22 elections. The SPD will retain power in coalition with the Greens, but the headline remains the Greens’ success and the failure of the CDU and FDP in the smallest of the Bundesländer. Pundits have labeled Bremen as the ‘final warning’ for Chancellor Merkel’s federal coalition ahead of the 2013 federal election, further showing the CDU’s weakness in large cities and the lasting impact of Fukushima on German voters.
Above the Fray No More
For the United States, there is much to fear from Europe’s debt crisis but not much it can do, writes Bruce Stokes of The National Journal, a regular contributor to the Advisor. Washington has a huge financial stake in the taming of the euro crisis, Stokes argues, but the tools that exist to limit the damage are very limited. This article originally appeared in the May 28, 2011, edition of The National Journal.
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Support Our WorkThe President’s European Tour #9
In this week’s At Issue, Executive Director Dr. Jackson Janes looks at President Obama’s upcoming trip to Europe and examines the projected benefits, purposes, and expectations attached to a week in Ireland, the UK, France, and Poland.
Germany’s Global Role at Risk: New Challenges for Stability in the Middle East
Germany’s struggle to understand and to define its global responsibilities through the euro crisis, Afghanistan, and now Libya has taken the country’s policy course through more turns than in the Nürburgring racetrack, writes Ambassador J.D. Bindenagel, vice president at DePaul University and a regular contributor to the Advisor. Because of its unclear policies, Germany faces the challenge of being sidelined when the danger of the moment in the Middle East urgently needs European leadership, Bindenagel argues. This essay originally appeared in the May 18, 2011, edition of Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Bundeswehr Reform: Operation Accomplished! But is the Patient Dead?
German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière announced one of the biggest shake-ups in decades for the German military when he presented his plans for the Bundeswehr’s realignment on May 18, writes AICGS Visiting Fellow Mr. Uwe Brinkmann, professor of law at the Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr. In his essay, Mr. Brinkmann examines the proposed changes and gives some views on how the reforms could affect Germany’s role within NATO and the transatlantic military alliance in general.
AGI Podcast: German and American Media Reactions to the Killing of Osama bin Laden
In a new AICGS Podcast, John Dickerson of Slate Magazine and Alexander Privitera of N24 discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes German and American media reactions to the death of Osama bin Laden and how they reflect the national views of this incident. Additionally, the discussants examine what this means for Germany’s participation in Afghanistan as well as future allied military engagements.
New AGI Podcast: German Jihad
In this AICGS Podcast, Dr. Guido Steinberg of SWP discusses his new book called “German Jihad” with Dr. Jackson Janes of AICGS and examines why Germany is increasingly becoming a recruitment target for Jihadists and radicals.
AGI Podcast: Germany’s Role in Libya and the Middle East
In a new AICGS Podcast, Member of the Bundestag Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff, deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU-parliamentary group for Foreign Affairs, examines the roles of Germany, NATO, and the EU in dealing with the conflict in Libya and across the greater Middle East-North Africa region. Moderated by Dr. Jackson Janes, Dr. Schockenhoff touches on Turkey’s role in the Middle East, potential Libyan comparisons to Kosovo, and the importance of Egypt in overall regional stability.
Germany, Israel, and the “Special Relationship”
In a new AICGS Podcast, AICGS Fellows Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman and Prof. Dr. Michael Brenner discuss with Dr. Jackson Janes the status of Germany’s “special relationship” with Israel after Chancellor Merkel’s visit and bilateral cabinet meetings, focusing on Germany’s role in the greater Middle East and the importance of interaction at all levels of society.
