Category: Allies
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Though Not Yet Covered by Article 5, the United States Should Confirm Defense Commitment to Finland and Sweden
In mid-May, Finland and Sweden – two historically non-aligned countries – formally handed in their applications to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, as the Finnish and Swedish Ambassadors to NATO simultaneously handed in the official letters of application at the military alliance’s headquarters in Brussels. Lauded as an “historical moment” by Secretary […]
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The Summit of the Americas is Shaping Up to Be a Diplomatic Disaster for the United States
Monday marked the start of the ninth Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles. From June 6 through 10, leaders across the Western Hemisphere will discuss the issues that plague the region. While the agenda remained vague up until the day before, five major topics will be discussed: democratic governance, health and resilience to pandemics, […]
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The Upcoming Election in France Could Have Profound Consequences for France and the Transatlantic Relationship
Politics in France never fail to entertain. This will certainly hold true this weekend as French voters head to the polls to cast their vote in the presidential election on Sunday. Five years ago, the incumbent, centrist Emmanuel Macron of La Republique En March, defeated Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right Rassemblement National […]
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A Renewed Iran Nuclear Deal is Not Good News to U.S. Allies in the Region
Last weekend, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a summit with Israel and four Arab countries at a resort in Israel’s Negev Desert. Until two years ago, a meeting between these parties would not have been feasible. In the fall of 2020, the Trump administration brokered the Abraham Accords, a deal during which four […]
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An Introduction to NATO and Its Connection to Russia’s War in Ukraine
Last week, the White House announced that U.S. President Joe Biden would be making a 2-day trip to Europe to attend North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO, and European Union summits to discuss the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Caught between its instincts of not antagonizing Russia and its support for Ukraine, the United State and […]
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The United States and Its European Allies Have Never Been So United
Unity. That is the message U.S. President Joe Biden is sending to Russia and the world during his trip to Europe. His point: Western allies – the United States, the European Union, and NATO – are standing shoulder to shoulder in support of Ukraine as Russia continues to attack the war-torn nation. Biden’s quick visit […]
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Do U.S. Allies Contribute Enough? Alliances Are Worth More than Money
On February 25, Russia invaded Ukraine after months of troop buildup along the border. The invasion has united the West in ways Russia never intended. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin likely expected to drive a wedge between the United States and its European allies. In another turn of events, Russian aggression in Ukraine brought back […]
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In a Search for Increased Oil Production, the United States Turns to its Gulf Allies
Three weeks into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its allies have imposed severe, economy-damaging sanctions on Russia. The West’s concern is that oil prices will continue to rise exponentially due to market disruptions. The United States and its European allies avoided targeting Russia’s energy supplies, yet the crushing sanctions threaten to […]
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Will Russian Aggression in Ukraine Convince Finland and Sweden to Finally Join NATO?
For decades, both Finland and Sweden, two historically neutral countries in northern Europe, have chosen not to seek membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or NATO. However, the recent buildup of Russian troops along the Ukraine border and subsequent invasion have renewed debate in both countries about joining the alliance, prompting an irritated response […]
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Qatar is Back at the Center of International Politics…Again
Qatar yet again finds itself at the center of international politics. In September, this blog argued that the United States relied on Qatar, one of its closest Persian Gulf allies, to play an outsized diplomatic role, serving as a key interlocutor for the Americans in Afghanistan and with Iran. The United States is again reaching […]
Allies and Adversaries 