Foreign & Security Policy

In May, President Obama submitted to Congress the full details of his first budget request, for Fiscal Year 2010. The President’s first annual budget demonstrates that the Obama administration does take seriously the role of the U.S. in supporting democracy, governance, and human rights in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA).

Western leaders across the political spectrum need to understand how complicated and intertwined Iran and the region have become. When dealing with the crisis in Iran they will need to rally around a policy of moderation and caution.

President Barack Obama’s call for a "new beginning between the United States and the Muslims" on June 4th 2009 resonated deeply throughout much of the Middle East, drawing both praise and criticism. A review of Arab journalists’ responses.

Last week's meeting between Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu showed a fundamental disagreement between the U.S. and Israel. Obama made it clear that he is committed to a two-state solution, yet Netanyahu vacillated. Israel and its most important ally may face a deep ideological and strategic rift.

On March 31, 2009 the future of Afghanistan was discussed at a one-day conference in The Hague. That the conference was being held at such a senior political level has raised concern among Afghan civil society activists - will their views, will voices from Afghanistan in remain unheard?

The Merida Initiative, a programme against the illicit trade in drugs headed by the USA and Mexico, is too focused on law enforcement. What is needed is structural reform of the police and judicial systems and more economic development.

NATO’s intervention in Afghanistan shows that the alliance has no choice but to co-operate with other multinational organisations, as well as major and regional powers in order to earn respect and legitimacy.

Experts from Afghanistan, Pakistan and German and international scientists, politicians and journalists outline challenges for the stabilisation process in the region.

The Czech EU Presidency was thrown right into the middle of the war in Gaza. And Czech politicians stumbled. Unlike the majority of their colleagues from Western Europe, who condemned Israel’s actions as disproportionate, the Czech prime and foreign ministers initially blamed Hamas for the conflict.

The crucial question is whether Israel under the given circumstances had a choice? Could anything be achieved otherwise? Where the objectives justified? Are we any closer now to a better future? The tragic paradox four weeks ago was that any course of action Israel would have chosen had the potential of being self-defeating.