diplomacy

Lethal Aid for Ukraine: Assessing Costs and Benefits As Russia’s support for separatist forces in Eastern Ukraine and direct involvement in the conflict there continues to escalate, French President François Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are in Moscow in an effort to negotiate a ceasefire and diplomatic solution with their Russian counterparts. Meanwhile, with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry in Europe, there are reports that the United States is considering the provision of defensive arms to Ukraine should diplomacy not be immediately successful. Taking the step of providing arms to Ukraine has garnered increasing support from members of Congress and outside experts. While it is clear that the United States and Europe need to reinforce their response to Russia,… Read More ›

Obama Building U.S.-India Strategic Partnership for the 21st Century President Obama met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this weekend, their second bilateral summit since September 2014, when the two leaders announced a “renewed U.S.-India partnership for the 21st century.” Now, the United States and India are following up on that commitment with additional action to strengthen the foundation of the strategic relationship. That effort is meeting significant success, with Prime Minister Modi announcing that “Our relationship stands at a new level today” following the unprecedented invitation and attendance of President Obama at India’s 66th Republic Day. Already, agreements have been reached on a wide range of mutual interests between the two nations, including trade and investment, security, nuclear energy, and climate change. While much work… Read More ›

The decision by President Obama to normalize U.S. diplomatic relations with Cuba and set America on a course to end sanctions has brought the Cold War with Cuba to a close – long after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Taking a new approach to Cuba updates American foreign policy toward Latin America for the 21st century and provides important strategic benefits to the United States. America will no longer be isolated internationally by its Cuba policy and has removed a significant roadblock to American leadership in Latin America, where leaders have strongly opposed Washington’s outdated approach to Havana. The move, which is substantially supported by domestic public opinion, including Cuban-Americans, also sets up the United States for modest economic gains. President Obama’s decision further… Read More ›

National Security Network Statement on Plans to Normalize Relations with Cuba FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 17, 2014  Washington, DC — Along with the release of  USAID contractor Alan Gross and an unnamed U.S. intelligence asset, President Obama announced today sweeping changes in U.S. policy with Cuba, normalizing relations after half a century of Cold War isolation. National Security Network’s Executive Director John Bradshaw today issued the following statement: President Obama’s bold action in restoring relations with Cuba is more likely to lead to positive changes in the lives of the Cuban people than current policy. The new opening gets beyond rigid Cold War mindsets of the past and looks at the practical realities of the current situation, recognizing that our estrangement from Cuba is not changing the… Read More ›

Recent reports indicate that Russia has escalated its assistance to rebels in eastern Ukraine with a greater flow of armaments and the direct involvement of around 1,000 Russian troops. This morning, a day ahead of the NATO summit in the United Kingdom, Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to have endorsed a ceasefire plan in Ukraine following conflicting reports. Nonetheless, the summit beginning tomorrow provides an important venue for NATO to respond to Russian aggression to increase European stability regardless of the outcome of the apparently preliminary ceasefire arrangement under consideration. Top agenda items include reassuring NATO member states – particularly Baltic states, where President Obama is currently visiting – of alliance commitments, increasing preparedness for countering unconventional operations like those Russia has conducted in Ukraine, addressing underwhelming… Read More ›

Al Jazeera interviews NSN’s Executive Director John Bradshaw on global conflicts July 28th, 2014 | Al Jazeera   Read More ›

  President Barack Obama and President-elect Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine talk after statements to the press following their bilateral meeting at the Warsaw Marriott Hotel in Warsaw, Poland. [Official White House Photo by Pete Souza, 6/4/2014]Following the downing of Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) in eastern Ukraine, the West faces challenges in coordinating a significant increase in pressure on Russia to bring an end to the regional conflict.  Thus far, relatively modest sanctions by the United States and Europe have been effective in imposing costs on the Russian economy and were likely a factor in the removal of Russian forces from the border and Moscow’s backing away from the threat of invading eastern Ukraine. Nonetheless, Russian support for separatists has continued to fuel the conflict.… Read More ›

  US Department of State twitter photo, 7/3/14   Fueled by conservative obstructionism, over 50 nominees for top posts at the Department of State remain unconfirmed by the U.S. Senate, including over 40 nominees for ambassador positions. But the foot-dragging is not motivated by substantive concerns regarding most of the nominees. Instead, conservative obstructionism appears to be primarily a politically motivated retaliation – what Senator Corker (R-TN) called “blowback” – for last year when the Senate made filibustering nominations more difficult following conservatives’ abuse of that tactic at historically high levels.  This kind of political brinksmanship is dangerous and holds American interests at risk in regions across the world where diplomacy plays a leading role in advancing American national security. As the recent confirmations of the U.S.… Read More ›

By Brian Katulis and Peter Jul June 16th, 2014 | Center For American Progress The ongoing fragmentation in Iraq and Syria is the latest episode in a series of events that is shaking the foundations of today’s Middle East. The region has entered a fluid period of transition involving the growing power of non-state actors, including new Islamist extremist groups, at a time of increased competition for influence among the key countries in the region. For decades, the United States has grappled with formulating a Middle East strategy that advances both its interests and its values. Under President Barack Obama, the top U.S. priorities in the Middle East have included preventing a terrorist attack on the homeland; stopping Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon; ending… Read More ›

  Lt. Gen. Frederick Hodges, the commander of NATO Allied Land Forces Command, greets Lithuanian Army Col. Vilmantas Tamosaitis, commander of the Iron Wolf Mechanized Brigade. [Lithuanian Ministry of Defense photo by Eugenijus Zygaitis, May 17, 2014]This week, President Obama is meeting with European leaders to discuss security and economic issues amidst continued uncertainty surrounding Ukraine’s future and recent European elections. The European tour offers the opportunity to further the kind of multilateral leadership the President reiterated during his foreign policy speech at West Point last week. And there’s no shortage of challenges. With uneasy NATO allies in Eastern Europe, the United States must offer right-sized reassurance to partners without unnecessarily provoking a Russian response. While this mark may have been hit by Obama’s announced… Read More ›