In The News

Afghanistan's Post-NATO Future

Harsh V. Pant May 18, 2012
A newly signed strategic partnership agreement between Afghanistan and the United States stipulates that NATO troops will largely withdraw by the end of 2014 with Afghan security forces taking the lead in securing the nation. The US will provide limited training and counterterrorism support for the next decade, but will be leaving a to-do list for major powers in the region, especially rivals...

US, Japan Tweak Marine Exit Plan

Masami Ito May 2, 2012
The US military presence in Japan is a reminder of a complicated history of bitter opponents during World War II who eventually became the strongest of allies. History bears heavily on any US military plans in Japan, including a recent US decision to relocate 9,000 Marines from Okinawa, with some going to Guam in Hawaii, but others scheduled to relocate to a more remote area in north Okinawa....

Asia Caught Between Rivals China and US

Jean-Pierre Lehmann April 30, 2012
As European and US economies continue to drag, many analysts see China and Asia as a whole rising as dominant global players. But international political economist Jean-Pierre Lehmann points to the ambiguity of this prowess. Asian nations increasingly rely on China as an economic partner while increasingly counting on the United States for security. Vietnam, Australia, Japan and others...

The US Confronts Pakistan’s Street Power

Dilip Hiro April 27, 2012
Lahore-based Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is founder of Laskar-e-Taiba, LeT, and alleged to be the mastermind behind the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks. Yet he’s also come to epitomize Pakistani street power, taking advantage of widespread seething discontent. Author Dilip Hiro details the history of Pakistan that encourages instability. Large numbers of Pakistanis are alert for any hint of disrespect...

Can Afghanistan and Pakistan Prop Each Other Up?

Paula Newberg March 30, 2012
NATO is winding down its military operations in Afghanistan, leaving the nation only slightly more stable than when troops arrived in 2001. Security priorities drove aid, and Afghanistan and its neighbor Pakistan are now left in desperate need of good governance and nation-building. “Billions have been spent, but only a trickle was invested in Afghanistan's economic future,” explains Paula...

Global Power Shift – Part II

Richard Weitz March 23, 2012
With the US shifting its security focus toward Asia, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has been forced to review its strategic posture. This two-part YaleGlobal series examines the impact of the US pivot toward Asia on both the US and NATO against the backdrop of their shrinking budgets and the need to reduce debt. While the US is concerned about China’s rising power, along with NATO, it...

Global Power Shift – Part I

Alistair Burnett March 21, 2012
The US plan to boost its presence in Asia could be less about expanding security and more about setting new priorities. This two-part series analyzes the implications of the new focus on a rising China both for US strategy and its relations with European partners. The Asia pivot could mark the start of a shrinking global security footprint for the US, Alistair Burnett, editor of BBC’s The World...