TRANSATLANTIC PARTNERSHIP VITAL

SACEUR Touts Collaborative Strategy on Threats The United States is trimming troop levels in Europe but will keep a significant presence to maintain NATO leadership while teaming with allies to solve long-term threats, the U.S. commander in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa says. Experience has shown “that the most lasting solutions to existing threats will be found within collaborative and multifaceted approaches,” Marine Corps General James Jones told the Senate and House Armed Services committees March 7 and March 8, respectively. more

U.S.-Europe Partnership Remains Crucial, Says Washington Scholar America’s partnership with Europe is crucial in dealing with the worldwide threat from fanatical terrorism and maintaining security and stability in many regions of the world, said a Washington scholar during a webcast March 7. The United States does act unilaterally when cooperative measures with other countries or international institutions do not suffice, but U.S. policy-makers seek “as much multilateralism as possible,” said Robert Lieber, professor of government and international affairs at Georgetown University in Washington. more

HELPING IRAQ

U.S. Ambassador Commends Iraq's Progress on Forming Government Leaders of Iraq's major political factions have agreed to convene the country's new parliament on March 16 and to meet continuously in an effort to form a government of national unity as soon as possible, according to U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad. more

Europe Plays Growing Role in Helping Iraqis Build Better Future Despite past differences on the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Europe and the United States increasingly are working together to promote stability in Iraq and to meet a growing number of global challenges, a senior U.S. diplomat says. The United States and Europe are working together “to promote freedom and prosperity in the world,” Daniel Fried, assistant secretary of state for European affairs, said in congressional testimony March 8. more

NATO IN AFGHANISTAN

U.S. Officials See Progress, Challenges in Afghanistan Conditions in Afghanistan remain extremely challenging more than four years after the fall of the Taliban but, according to senior U.S. government officials, the Afghans are making steady progress towards establishing the foundations of security and prosperity. “I’m not here to tell you everything is going swimmingly. It is a tough slog,” Assistant Administrator of USAID James Kunder told members of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Middle East and Central Asian Affairs on March 9. But he added, “There has been very substantial progress made in the last four years, primarily because of the Afghans themselves.” more

NATO To Expand Operations in Southern, Eastern Afghanistan NATO plans to expand into Afghanistan’s southern and eastern regions in 2006, where it will assume a larger role supporting Afghan forces as they eradicate opium crops, says U.S. Marine General James L. Jones, commander of U.S. forces in Europe. When the expansion is completed, NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will comprise 21,000 military personnel from 36 nations “working together to bring peace, stability, and reconstruction to Afghanistan,” Jones told reporters at a March 6 press briefing at the Defense Department.

US-INDIA COOPERATION

Rice Hails U.S.-India Agreement on Civilian Nuclear Cooperation The week before last President Bush concluded a historic agreement on civilian nuclear cooperation with India. This agreement is a strategic achievement: It will strengthen international security. It will enhance energy security and environmental protection. It will foster economic and technological development. And it will help transform the partnership between the world's oldest and the world's largest democracy. more

Ongoing Efforts to Implement the U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Agreement Special Briefing by R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs. March 16, 2006. more

U.S.-India Joint Statement President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today expressed satisfaction with the great progress the United States and India have made in advancing our strategic partnership to meet the global challenges of the 21st century. Reviewing the progress made in deepening the global partnership between the United States and India since their Joint Statement of July 18, 2005, the President and the Prime Minister reaffirm their commitment to expand even further the growing ties between their two countries. more

White House Fact Sheet; United States and India: Strategic Partnership. more

DARFUR

U.S. Praises African Union's Support for U.N. Operation in Darfur The United States applauds the African Union's decision to support the transition of peacekeeping operations in the Darfur region of Sudan to a United Nations peacekeeping operation, the State Department announced in a March 10 statement. Although the African Union Mission in Sudan has provided "initial stabilization and reduced large-scale organized violence", the United States is continuing to work with the U.S. Security Council for the authorization of a U.N. peacekeeping mission, the statement said. more

2006 NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

National Security Advisor Outlines New Security Strategy The 2006 national security strategy update begins with the recognition that America is at war, the White House national security advisor says. National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley, speaking March 16 at the U.S. Institute of Peace, said some important aspects of the previous strategy, released in 2002, remain unchanged. Now as before, America makes no distinction between terrorists and countries that harbor them, Hadley said, and it remains U.S. policy to confront threats before they fully materialize. Hadley also said the doctrine of pre-emption remains sound and must remain an integral part of U.S. strategy. He drew attention to five broad themes encapsulated in the strategy. 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.