Atlantic Council

The challenges that face NATO include "new security threats, the future of Russia, the state of the European Pillar, American involvement in NATO, the state of the global economy, and potential cataclysmic events."

That was the assessment of Martin H. A. van Heuven, writing a paper for the Atlantic Council in 1999, as he looked forward to the state of NATO in 2010.

The recent pressure on Angela Merkel to enact further stimulus measures for Germany's economy continues, the WSJ reports:

India-Pakistan experts suggested that last week's attacks on Mumbai were designed to provoke a war between the two countries, thereby scuppering President-elect Obama's plans for peace in the region, which has been at the top of his agenda.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will meet with NATO ministers to discuss controversial plans for proposed Ukrainian and Georgian membership of the alliance. Financial Times:

Britain could send up to 2000 extra troops to Afghanistan if U.S.

Former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has warned relations between the two Koreas may be heading toward catastrophe, reports Reuters.

Russia and Abkhazia are in talks on establishing a permanent Russian naval presence in Ochamchira, a seaside town in the separatist Georgian republic, the Abkhazian foreign minister told RIA Novosti. "This [Ochamchira] is a very comfortable place for basing naval forces.

Iran says that it has successfully launched a new long-range surface-to-surface missile, reports the BBC. The Sajjil missile is capable of hitting targets in south-eastern Europe, including Greece and Turkey.

The British Royal Navy has repelled a pirate attack on a Danish cargo ship off the coast of Yemen, reports the BBC. Two Somali pirates and one Yemeni national were killed in the ensuing clash.

Russia on Wednesday rejected U.S. proposals aimed at easing concerns over a missile defense system in Europe, according to Reuters. Russia says the planned U.S. system will threaten its national security and that the administration of George W.