U.S. Foreign Policy

Cyberwarfare in Latvia: A Call for New Cyberwarfare Terminology

Two recent Russian malicious cyber operations in Latvia targeted the government and a social media platform. But, legally, those instances do not rise to the level of a “cyberattack” as defined by the Tallinn Manual 2.0. Despite not satisfying...

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President Trump’s Withdrawal from Germany: Redefining American Security?

Little to nothing, for two reasons. First, the U.S. leverages a sizeable sunk investment in German bases in very substantial part to support missions that are unrelated in any direct sense to its defense posture in Europe, if indeed...

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Europe as a Neutral Giant?

From Emmanuel Macron to Ursula von der Leyen, many European leaders dream of the European Union (EU) asserting itself one day as a geopolitical superpower in its own right. There is still a long way to go, however. True,...

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Russia: Now No Longer European As Well?

Under Vladimir Putin, Russia was moving away from its earlier embrace of Atlanticisim, seeing Russia as part of the Western world, and aspiring to emulate the West’s values and standards of governance, but still considered Russia part of an...

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America in Crisis

It is a truism in international affairs that we live in an era of rapid, often destabilizing, change. That said, the global situation just a few months ago actually looked relatively stable and predictable. A lot that was going...

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Baltic Security: The Same Challenges Remain, Even During a Pandemic

The implications of the COVID-19 pandemic go far beyond health issues and economy. It is a much broader challenge for the security of Western countries, not least for those at NATO’s Eastern frontier, like the Baltic states....

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Squaring the Circle: The Replacement of the German Luftwaffe’s Tornado

Over the last few weeks, a debate has intensified in German political and national security circles on the issue of replacing Panavia Tornado jets for the Luftwaffe. With entry into service in 1979, the Tornado as presently operated by...

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Austerity and Defense: A Way Forward or Dead End?

Few people would dispute that the United States is now embroiled in a “great power” competition, but this unanimity does not extend to the size of the defense budget. Proponents for greater spending argue that current expenditures are still...

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Russia’s Arctic Development Poses Risks for Combating Climate Change in the Baltics

While this year's snowless winter may have changed things, Lithuanians haven't seemed particularly concerned with climate change in their country. According to Standard Eurobarometer 90, only 3% of Lithuanians in November 2018 believed climate change and energy issues to...

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The Current Status of Transportation Infrastructure in the Baltics

A quality transportation system is necessary for both economic and national security. The US Interstate Highway System — a critical component of the nation’s economic vitality — was originally envisioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower primarily for defense related...

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