U.S.-European Relations

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
commentary
Is NATO Brain Dead?
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Dec 3, 2019
Inside Sources
French President Macron's remark about the brain death of NATO was provoked by President Trump's October 6 decision, since modified, to pull all U.S. troops out of Syria. Macron is right to wonder how Trump would respond to any threat to European security. But he is wrong to attribute this uncertainty to diminishing support for the alliance among all Americans.
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United States
blog
RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 5, 2019
For busy staff, August's respite from back-to-back meetings, hearing preparation, and late votes is hard-earned. The summer recess also provides an opportunity to get ahead of issues that will resurface in the fall. To that end, we have compiled recent RAND research on topics likely to top the congressional agenda come September.
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Iran
commentary
The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Jun 17, 2019
The Hill
Even if the United States and Iran avoid a direct military clash, recent escalation and the U.S. maximum pressure campaign are exacting long-term costs for U.S. interests and regional stability in ways that may be difficult if not impossible to reverse.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?
Ariane M. Tabatabai
May 10, 2019
New York Times
Europe faces mounting pressure from both Tehran and Washington regarding the Iran nuclear deal. European countries could take steps to signal their commitment to upholding the deal, but doing so may alienate the United States.
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Nuclear Deterrence
commentary
Can U.S. Pressure Lead to a New Iran Nuclear Deal?
Ariane M. Tabatabai, Eric Brewer
Sep 18, 2018
Foreign Policy
It could be a mistake for the United States to assume that more pressure will bring Iran closer to ending or reducing its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. When it comes to measures aimed at Iran's nuclear program, more pressure could worsen nuclear risks and further drive a wedge between the United States and its European allies.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
Assessing Transatlantic Fallout After the U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal
James Hoobler
May 31, 2018
American Institute for Contemporary German Studies
The U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal has set off another round of reflection on the state and future of the transatlantic alliance. Though this dispute may not in itself lead to a full breach in the transatlantic relationship, it joins a growing list of sharp disagreements impacting U.S. alliances.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
The Strategic Fallout of U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Deal
Dalia Dassa Kaye
May 10, 2018
The Hill
President Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear agreement. What will happen next? Friction between the United States and its European allies will likely increase, while Iran moves closer to China and Russia. Also, the resentment of a new generation of Iranians toward America is likely to grow.
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commentary
American Retrenchment Is a Golden Oldie
James Dobbins @Jim_Dobbins
Aug 1, 2017
The Wall Street Journal
Isolationism is a recurring temptation of American foreign policy. Responding to new and unforeseen challenges, however, the United States has repeatedly resisted that temptation and risen to the demands of global leadership. Is it different today?
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United Kingdom
commentary
Brexit and the Politics of Raising Barriers
Charles P. Ries @charles_ries
Mar 29, 2017
Newsweek
A lot is known about bringing new members into alliances and trade relationships. Not much is known about dismantling these bonds peaceably. Since Brexit will be more about adding barriers than taking them down, it will be a leap into the dark.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
Transatlantic Relations After Obama
Christopher S. Chivvis, Jana Puglierin
Oct 14, 2016
Berlin Policy Journal
The Obama era will be remembered as the time when America's leadership role in Europe began to shift. Europeans got more freedom of action, but could no longer outsource their foreign and military responsibilities to Washington. Whether Clinton or Trump is elected president, Europe will have to do more.
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Russia
commentary
Is Winter Coming? Or, Our Russia Strategy
Michael Spirtas
Nov 12, 2015
Breaking Defense
Many ask if Russian actions represent a new challenge to international order, and, if so, what is the best course of action to respond to it.
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Russia
commentary
Putin: Eyes Wide Shut
F. Stephen Larrabee
Apr 20, 2015
GlobalSecurity.org and The RAND Blog
The Russia that the United States faces today is more assertive and more unpredictable—and thus, in many ways, more dangerous—than the Russia that the U.S. confronted during the latter part of the Cold War.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
France Is Replacing the UK as America's Top Ally in Europe
Michael Shurkin, Peter A. Wilson
Mar 30, 2015
Newsweek
The United States' relationship with France should be recognized and strengthened. France retains the military capability and the political moxie to contribute significantly and aggressively to collective responses to security threats to the Atlantic Alliance.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Stop Putin's Next Invasion Before It Starts
Terrence Kelly
Mar 20, 2015
U.S. News & World Report
The U.S. needs to consider stationing forces in Eastern Europe to support its commitment to protect the independence of the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania against Russian aggression. If not, and Russia invades, the options available to this or a future U.S. president are stark.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
The Greatest Challenge to U.S.-European Security Cooperation Today: The Ukraine Crisis
Ian Bond, William Courtney @courtneywmh, Michael Haltzel, Kenneth Yalowitz
Dec 8, 2014
The National Interest
Germany and America are leading Western policy in addressing the Russia-Ukraine crisis. The basic strategy is to support Ukraine and pressure Moscow to halt aggression, while leaving the door open to diplomacy. Sustaining Western unity is essential, but may not be easy to achieve.
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Russia
commentary
Putting Putin in His Place
Christopher S. Chivvis
Nov 26, 2014
U.S. News & World Report
Developing an effective and sustainable strategy to deal with the multi-layered problem that Putin's Russia has created requires deterring Russia while also engaging it. The U.S. and Europe should have confidence that they are up to the task.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
Redefining the Transatlantic Relationship—Europe's Paradoxical Pacifism
Jeremy Ghez
Aug 1, 2011
The European Magazine
While Europeans dislike a ubiquitous America which is always ready to prove its power, they seem to dislike an isolationist America even more, writes Jeremy Ghez.
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Military Budgets and Defense Spending
commentary
Budget Cuts Are Cracking the West's Defenses
F. Stephen Larrabee, Peter A. Wilson
Aug 17, 2010
Christian Science Monitor
Washington would be wise to work closely with Britain and France to ensure that their budget cuts do not threaten how the allies will, together, address common threats and security challenges, write F. Stephen Larrabee and Peter A. Wilson.
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization
commentary
Only a New 'Grand Bargain' on Transatlantic Solidarity Can Meet Deepest Challenges
Robert E. Hunter
Apr 23, 2010
European Affairs
NATO's new Strategic Concept will set out ambitious goals and means for the alliance, but it seems likely to paper over the cracks which are beginning to separate U.S. interests and attitudes from those of most of its European allies, writes Robert E. Hunter.
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U.S.-European Relations
commentary
Europe's Empty Promises
Christopher S. Chivvis
Feb 24, 2010
ForeignPolicy.com
American frustration with Europe's dwindling military capabilities is reaching new heights, as was clear in a speech by U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates at the National Defense University on Tuesday, writes Christopher S. Chivvis.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
A Trans-Atlantic Moment
F. Stephen Larrabee, Julian Lindley-French
Feb 22, 2009
The Washington Times
The election of Barack Obama provides an important opportunity to revitalize the trans-Atlantic security partnership. This partnership has served both sides well in the past. But after eight years of deep ideological differences during the Bush administration, it is badly frayed and in need of new leadership and new vision, write F. Stephen Larrabee and Julian Lindley-French.
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commentary
Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud
Seth G. Jones, F. Stephen Larrabee
Jan 13, 2006
International Herald Tribune
Published commentary by RAND staff: Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud, in International Herald Tribune.
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Quoted

As shown in Afghanistan, the United States faces a tradeoff between incorporating allied views into U.S. decisions and compromising allies' support for U.S. policy. If the United States is serious about strengthening alliances and burden-sharing, this may require finding ways to better incorporate allied concerns into U.S. decisionmaking.

Andrew Radin

Political Scientist

Source: War on the Rocks

The nuclear weapons the United States already has should be adequate to counter the threat posed by new Chinese missiles even under very pessimistic assumptions. And if U.S. officials eventually decide they have to target the Chinese silos, nonnuclear weapons and sensors would provide a more credible deterrent than building additional nuclear weapons would.

Edward Geist

Policy Researcher

Source: The Washington Post

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Russia's Neighbors Have More Leverage Than They Think

Afghanistan’s Refugee Crisis: Forty Years in the Making

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Getting to Know Military Caregivers and Their Needs

U.S.-European Relations

Is NATO Brain Dead?

RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress

The Costs of Confrontation with Iran Are Mounting

Can Anyone Save the Iran Nuclear Deal Now?

Can U.S. Pressure Lead to a New Iran Nuclear Deal?

Assessing Transatlantic Fallout After the U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal

The Strategic Fallout of U.S. Withdrawal from the Iran Deal

American Retrenchment Is a Golden Oldie

Brexit and the Politics of Raising Barriers

Transatlantic Relations After Obama

Is Winter Coming? Or, Our Russia Strategy

Putin: Eyes Wide Shut

France Is Replacing the UK as America's Top Ally in Europe

Stop Putin's Next Invasion Before It Starts

The Greatest Challenge to U.S.-European Security Cooperation Today: The Ukraine Crisis

Putting Putin in His Place

Redefining the Transatlantic Relationship—Europe's Paradoxical Pacifism

Budget Cuts Are Cracking the West's Defenses

Only a New 'Grand Bargain' on Transatlantic Solidarity Can Meet Deepest Challenges

Europe's Empty Promises

A Trans-Atlantic Moment

Let's Avoid Another Trans-Atlantic Feud

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