No easy task for Obama
After winning re-election, Barack Obama once again called for greater cross-party cooperation. But there are serious doubts that the president will be able to overcome the deadlock that grips Washington. READ MORE
Russia not Obama's 'No. 1 foe,' but Moscow doubts a fresh 'reset'
Obama promised 'more flexibility' with Russia after his reelection. But President Putin is pursuing a foreign policy agenda that is increasingly critical of the US. READ MORE
Ivanishvili on Foreign Policy, Territorial Integrity
'We won't be able to be a neutral state'; NATO was the best option for our security; ‘I hope chance to join NATO, wasted by Saakashvili, is not lost forever'; Georgia should become attractive for Abkhazians, Ossetians; ‘Restoring territorial integrity possible, but not in nearest future” READ MORE
Energy security and NATO: a view from Washington
What you see depends on where you are standing…and the view of energy security from here on the banks of the Potomac River, is surely quite different from that on the banks of the Seine, the Thames, the Vistula, or of Faxafloi Bay. READ MORE
Russia rooting for Obama in US election
Moscow is closely following the build-up to the US elections and has made no secret about its preference for Obama, though ties between the two countries haven’t been without problems during his presidency. READ MORE
China Steps Up Rhetoric against U.S. Missile Defense
Chinese officials are becoming increasingly vocal about U.S. ballistic missile defense (BMD) developments in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the newly elevated U.S. security profile in their region resulting from the U.S. “rebalancing” toward the Asia-Pacific region. READ MORE
Russia and the USA Enhance Their Presence in Central Asia
Lately Russia has evidently given special focus to Central Asia. On September 19th-20th Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Kyrgyzstan, and October 4th-5th – Dushanbe. The agreements signed in course of these visits should assure stable military presence of Russia in Central Asia region for 20-30 years. On this ground the experts made a conclusion that the balance in the region established between the world powers gradually, but persistently leans to Moscow, especially at the background of withdrawal of NATO forces from Afghanistan. READ MORE
Romney and Obama talk Iran, nuclear program at debates
President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney wrapped up a series of defining debates on Monday night with a bristling exchange over America's place in the world, and other important issues, one of which was Iran and its disputed nuclear program, NY Times reported. READ MORE
Swiss negotiator: Regional trade deals are good for multilateralism
Frustrated by the slow pace of multilateral trade negotiations, more countries are seeking to liberalise trade through bilateral and regional agreements. This may prepare the ground for further multilateral deals, Ambassador Didier Chambovey, the Swiss trade negotiator. READ MORE
The Emerging Doctrine of the United States
Over the past weekend, rumors began to emerge that the Syrian opposition would allow elements of the al Assad regime to remain in Syria and participate in the new government. Rumors have become Syria's prime export, and as such they should not be taken too seriously. Nevertheless, what is happening in Syria is significant for a new foreign doctrine emerging in the United States -- a doctrine in which the United States does not take primary responsibility for events, but which allows regional crises to play out until a new regional balance is reached. Whether a good or bad policy -- and that is partly what the U.S. presidential race is about -- it is real, and it flows from lessons learned. READ MORE
