Transatlantic Focus:
A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter

NSA Hadley Visit

Stephen Hadley, United States National Security Advisor Press Roundtable U.S. Mission, NATO Headquarters Brussels, Belgium Mr. Hadley: NATO is the place where Americans come to have a strategic discussion with Europe about the common issues that we face, and there are a lot of them. We covered most of them today -- Iran, Iraq, the Middle East generally, Lebanon, Kosovo, relations with Russia, the whole gamut. We obviously also talked a lot about Afghanistan, the importance of that mission. more

Afghanistan

Afghanistan Strategic Challenge for NATO, Pentagon Chief Says Afghanistan represents a continuing military and political test for NATO, according to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, who has called up alliance members to meet their commitments to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operating there under a mandate from the United Nations. more

President Bush Discusses Progress in Afghanistan, Global War on Terror  February 15, 2007 The Mayflower Hotel, Washington, D.C. I am really proud that our nation helped liberate the 25 million people of that country. We should be proud to stand alongside the people of Afghanistan, the newly liberated Afghanistan. And I know we're all proud of the men and women who have helped liberate that country -- the men and women who wear our uniform who helped liberate that country and continue to make the sacrifices necessary. more | White House Fact Sheet

BBC HARDtalk talks to America's Ambassador to NATO about the future of NATO Ambassador Victoria Nuland, United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) interview by Allan Little on BBC HARDtalk. February 15, 2007. more

Transatlantic Relations

Nicholas Burns, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs to the Atlantic Council of the United States.

A Conversation on U.S.-European Cooperation Beyond Europe [...]The United States has acted with great determination, and I think with great efficiency and results, in reaffirming our partnership with Europe over the last several years. I was ambassador to NATO in 2002 and '03 during that very difficult time when we had a major transatlantic difference over whether or not the United States should go into Iraq -- a difference over the role of the US. and the European countries in fighting the war on terrorism on a global basis -- maybe even a difference about the nature of what an alliance was, and whether countries should act independently of that alliance or whether they should not. [...] more

Iran

Iran's Nuclear Policies Leading to Greater Isolation, Rice Says By refusing to suspend its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities, Iran is continuing to isolate itself from the international community, according to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Responding to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's stated refusal to "reverse" his country's nuclear program, Rice said, "They don't need a reverse gear. They need a stop button. They need to stop enriching and reprocessing and then we can sit down and talk about whatever is on Iran's mind." more

A Conversation on Iran and U.S. National Security  R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs; Remarks to the Brookings Institution; Washington, DC. February 14, 2007. more

Missile Defense

Proposed Missile Defenses in Europe Would Target Iranian Threat  A senior State Department official says a plan to deploy elements of a limited missile defense system in Central Europe is not meant to upset a cooperative relationship between the United States and Russia. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried told reporters at the Washington Foreign Press Center February 22 that Russia’s strategic nuclear deterrent is not the intended target of 10 ballistic missile interceptors in Poland and tracking radar in the Czech Republic.  more | Transcript of the Foreign Press Center Briefing

LTG Obering and A/S Fried did an FPC briefing yesterday.

No Shift Occurring in U.S.-Russian Relations, Says White House Calling Russia “an important ally,” White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters February 12 that the United States remains committed to working with Russia and other partners to tackle a host of transnational security challenges, including terrorism and nuclear proliferation. more

Kosovo

Kosovo Talks Enter Final Phase; March Deadline Set Talks to determine the future status of Kosovo entered their final phase February 21 in Vienna, Austria, where U.S. representative Kyle Scott said a settlement developed by the United Nations offers the best solution to end years of ethnic conflict. more

Kosovo Status Issues Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Press Roundtable Washington, DC February 8, 2007 more

Transatlantic Focus: A U.S. Foreign Policy Newsletter
is published and distributed by the Public Affairs Section of the United States Mission to NATO - Brussels.