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U.S.-EU: shared priorities

DEFENSE & MILITARY COOPERATION

Since the end of the Cold War, both NATO and the European Union (EU) have
evolved along with Europe's changed strategic landscape. While NATO's collective defense guarantee remains at the core of the alliance, members have also sought to redefine its mission as new security challenges have emerged on Europe's periphery and beyond. At the same time, EU members have taken steps toward political integration with decisions to develop a common foreign policy and a defense arm to improve EU member states' abilities to manage security crises, such as those that engulfed the Balkans in the 1990s.

The evolution of NATO and the EU, however, has generated some friction between the United States and several of its allies over the security responsibilities of the two organizations. U.S.-European differences center around threat assessment, defense institutions, and military capabilities. Successive U.S. administrations and the U.S. Congress have called for enhanced European defense capabilities to enable the allies to better share the security burden, and to ensure that NATO's post-Cold War mission embraces combating terrorism and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. policymakers, backed by Congress, support EU efforts to develop a European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) provided that it remains tied to NATO and does not threaten the transatlantic relationship.

Most EU member states support close NATO-EU links, but also view ESDP as
a means to give themselves more options for dealing with future crises, especially in cases in which the United States may be reluctant to become involved. A minority of EU countries, spearheaded by France, continue to favor a more autonomous EU defense identity. This desire has been fueled further recently by disputes with the United States over how or whether to engage international institutions, such as the United Nations, on security matters and over the weight given to political versus military instruments in resolving international crises. Excerpt: NATO and the European Union. CRS Report for Congress, January 3, 2006.

Latest News

U.S. Marine General James Jones (File photo © AP Images)

Recent NATO Commander Sees Politically Healthy Organization
Washington, Dec. 21, 06 -- The American general who just stepped down after four years as NATO’s top military commander says the alliance is healthy politically. “[T]he alliance is an incredibly healthy organization, at least from a political standpoint,” said U.S. Marine General James Jones, who served as NATO’s supreme allied commander from January 2003 until early December 2006. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington on December 21, Jones said the highlight of his tenure was the accession of seven former Warsaw Pact nations to the alliance in 2004. The new members have brought “a palpable enthusiasm for freedom, for democracy, rule of law, and just the vast potential for those people that has been unleashed and that you feel every day,” Jones said. Additionally, the general said, “I know of no countries that are trying to leave the alliance, and I know quite a few that are trying to … achieve full membership by as early as 2008.” Abstract | Transcript

RECENT Speeches and Press Releases

- Robert M. Gates Sworn In as Defense Secretary (Dec 18, 2006)
- Pentagon Report Sees Progress in Iraq Despite Spike in Violence (Washington, Dec 19)
- President Bush Meets with Senior U.S. Defense Officials on Iraq (Washington, Dec 13, 06) | Deutsch
- Gates Outlines U.S. Strategic Defense Priorities (Washington, Dec 12, 06)
- Senate Hearing Shows Differing Views on Iraq Study Group Report (Washington, Dec 8, 06)
- Bush and Britain’s Blair Consider Course Ahead in Middle East (Washington, Dec 7, 06)
- All Options on the Table for Iraq, Defense Nominee Says (Washington, Dec 6, 06)
- Bush Says Door to NATO Membership “Remains Open” (Riga, Latvia, Nov 29, 06) | Deutsch
- NATO Leaders Embrace Transformation Agenda, U.S. Officials Say (Riga, Latvia, Nov 29, 06)
- NATO Members Reach Consensus on Current Operations, Future Goals (Riga, Latvia, Nov 29, 06)
- NATO Leaders Strengthen Commitment to Afghanistan (Riga, Latvia, Nov 29, 06)
- NATO's Jones Says Allies Growing More Flexible in Afghanistan (Riga, Latvia, Nov 29, 06)
- NATO Chief Says 15 Allies and Sweden Plan To Buy C-17s (Riga, Latvia, Nov 27, 06)
- U.S. To Reduce Impact of Anti-Vehicle Mines (Washington, Nov 16, 06)
- NATO: A 21st Century Alliance That Is Delivering. Ambassador Victoria Nuland, U.S. Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Center for European Policy Studies. (Brussels, Belgium. October 30, 06)
- Riga and Beyond. R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary for Political Affairs. Welt-am-Sonntag Bundeswehr Forum. (Berlin, Germany, October 23, 06)
- U.S.-German Marshall Center Teaches Value of Personal Contacts (Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Oct 10, 06)
- U.S. Land Mine Policy Surpasses Ottawa Treaty, State Says (Washington, Sep 22, 06)
- New Missile Defense Test Boosts Confidence of Developers (Washington, Sep 1, 06)
- New Land Mine Detection Tool Called Major Breakthrough (Washington, Aug 30, 06)
- Civil-Military Exercise Improves Post-Conflict Teamwork (Washington, May 22, 06)
- Multinational Exercise Aims To Improve Post-Conflict Teamwork (Washington, Feb 14, 06)

official documents

Fact Sheets
- NATO Summit (White House)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization (US Dept. of State, Nov 06)
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization-International Security Assistance Force (US Dept. of State, Jan 31, 06)

U.S. Government
- The Iraq Study Group Report (Dec 06)
- The NATO-Russia Partnership: A Marriage of Convenience or a Troubled Relationship? (Strategic Studies Institute of the US Army War College, Nov 06)
- The U.S. Military's Experience in Stability Operations, 1789-2005 (US Army Command and General Staff College, Nov 06)
- Global War on Terrorism (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Nov 06)
- Long-Term Implications of Current Defense Plans: Summary Update for FY2007 (Congressional Budget Office, Oct 06)
- National Strategy for Combating Terrorism (White House, Sep 06)
- Military Transformation (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Sep 06)
- Recognizing Iran as a Strategic Threat: An Intelligence Challenge for the U.S. (House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy, Aug 06)
- 2006 Key Strategic Issues (U.S. Army War College, July 06)
- Toward a Euro-Atlantic Strategy for the Black Sea Region (National Defense University, April 06)
- National Security Strategy Report (White House, March 06)
- Defense Budget Materials - FY2007 Budget (U.S. Department of Defense, Feb 06)
- National Military Strategic Plan for the War on Terrorism (U.S. Department of Defense, Feb 06)
- Quadrennial Defense Review (U.S. Department of Defense, Feb 06)
- Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 (U.S. Department of Defense, May 2005)
- The National Military Strategy of the United States of America (U.S. Department of Defense, March 2005)
- The National Defense Strategy of the United States of America (U.S. Department of Defense, March 2005)
- Defense Trade: Arms Export Control System in the Post-9/11 Environment (U.S. Government Accountability Office, Feb 2005)
- Facing the Future: Meeting the Threats and Challenges of the 21st Century (U.S. Department of Defense, Feb 2005)
- The National Security Strategy (White House, Sep 2002)

NATO
- NATO Handbook - Edition 2005/06
- Security through Partnership (March 2005) Eng | Deutsch | Other Languages
- NATO Transformed (June 2004) Eng | Deutsch | Other Languages
- NATO in the 21st Century (May 2004) Eng | Deutsch | Other Languages
- Backgrounder: NATO's Role in Civil Emergency Planning (Sep 06)
- Backgrounder: Interoperability for Joint Operations (July 06)
- Backgrounder: Logistics Support for NATO Operations (Feb 06)
- Military Matters: The Beginnings of NATO;s Military Structure: Birth of the Alliance to the Fall of the Berlin Wall (January 06)
- Security Cooperation with the Mediterranean Region and the Broader Middle East (August 2005)
- Briefing: Helping Secure Afghanistan's Future (October 06)
- Briefing: Building Peace and Stability in Crisis Regions (September 2005)
- Briefing: NATO Military Structure (August 2005)
- Briefing: Weapons of Mass Destruction (March 2005)
- Briefing: Response to Terrorism (March 2005)
- Briefing: Ready to React Rapidly to Crises Worldwide (September 06)
- Briefing: Combating Terrorism at Sea (July 06)
- Briefing: Bringing Peace and Stability to the Balkans (February 2005)
- Briefing: Improving Capabilities to Meet New Threats (October 06)
- Enhancing Security and Extending Stability through NATO enlargement (April 2004)
- Tackling Challenges of Defence Reform (Nov 2004)

EU
- A Secure Europe in a Better World - The European Security Strategy (2003)
Eng | Deu

NATO Summits
Riga, November 28-29, 06:
- NATO Summit, Riga, Latvia (NATO)
- NATO Review - Riga Summit Special (NATO)
- NATO Summit 06 (U.S. Dept. of State)
Istanbul, June 28-29, 2004:
- Istanbul Summit 2004 (NATO)
- Istanbul Summit Reader's Guide (NATO)
- NATO Istanbul Summit 2004 (US Department of State, IIP)
Prague, November 21-22, 2002:
- Prague Summit 2002 (NATO)
- The Prague Summit and NATO's Transformation (NATO)
- The United States at the NATO Prague Summit (US Dept. of State, IIP)
Washington, April 23-25, 1999:
- The Reader's Guide to the NATO Summit in Washington (NATO)

CRS Reports (Congressional Research Service/Library of Congress)
- Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade: Key Issues for the 110th Congress (Dec 20, 2006) New
- U.S. Forces in Iraq (updated Nov 13, 06)
- NATO in Afghanistan: A Test of the Transatlantic Alliance (updated November 1, 06)
- Defense Transformation: Background and Oversight Issues for Congress. (updated Nov 9, 06)
- NATO in Afghanistan: A Test of the Transatlantic Alliance. (updated Nov 1, 06)
- The War Crimes Act: Current Issues (updated Oct 2, 06)
- Military Technology and Conventional Weapons Export Controls: The Wassenaar Arrangement. (updated Sep 29, 06)
- Defense: FY2007 Authorization and Appropriations (updated Aug 7, 06)
- Future of the Balkans and U.S. Policy Concerns (updated Jan 18, 06)
- Post-War Iraq: Foreign Contributions to Training, Peacekeeping, and Reconstruction (updated Jan 13, 06)
- Authorization For Use of Military Force in Response to the 9/11 Attacks (P.L. 107-40): Legislative History (Jan 4, 06)
- NATO and the European Union (updated Jan 3, 06)

State Department eJournals
- The U.S. & NATO: An Alliance of Purpose (June 2004)
- Protecting Lives, Restoring Livelihoods: The U.S. Program To Remove Landmines (Jan 2004)
- NATO in the 21st Century - The Road Ahead (March 2002)
- NATO's 50th Anniversary (March 1999)
- NATO Enlargement: The American Viewpoint (October 1997)

infoalert

Commentary relating to the Iraq Study Group Report:
- Iraq: What Now? A Foreign Affairs Roundtable. Foreign Affairs, December 7, 2006, online edition. Fullltext
- The Baker-Hamilton Study Group Report: The Elephant Gives Birth to a Mouse.
CSIS Commentary, December 6, 2006, online edition fulltext
- 79 Steps to Victory in Iraq? New York Times, December 10, 2006. fulltext
- An Analysis of the Iraq Study Group Report. Brookings Institution, December 07, 2006, online edition fulltext

Defense Cooperation:
- The United States and the European Security and Defense Policy: Old Fears and New Approaches. Larabee, Stephen. Rand Corporation, December 2006, online edition, 16p fulltext
- The Widening Military Capabilities Gap between the United States and Europe: Does it Matter? Coonen, Stephen J. Parameters, Autumn 2006, v36, #3, pp67-85 fulltext
- Global Nato. Daalder, Ivo & James Goldgeier. Foreign Affairs, September/October 2006. v85, #5, pp105-113 fulltext

See: InfoAlert Archive

Documents In German Translation

- Präsident Bush erörtert Lage im Irak mit hochrangigen Vertretern des Verteidigungsministeriums (13. Dez 06)
- NATO-Gipfel in Lettland. Rede des Präsidenten. (28. November 06)

Mehr: AmerikaDienst

Links

U.S. Government

- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Mission to NATO
- NATO (Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs/U.S. Department of State)
- The United States and NATO (US Department of State, IIP)

NATO
- North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
- The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
- The Alliance's Mediterranean Dialogue
- The Partnership for Peace
- NATO-Russia Relations
- SHAPE: Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
- Joint Force Command Naples

Eu
- European Commission on the Common Foreign & Security Policy
- Council of the EU on the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)

Selected Organizations
- George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

Last updated: January 5, 2006

www.eu2007.de
Official Website of the German Presidency
of the EU



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