The transatlantic security relationship is currently in crisis and the reasons for this are the focus of this timely book. The security relationship has been at the heart of transatlantic co-operation since the onset of the Cold War and has been the foundation on which the stability of Europe has been built. But the post-Cold War period has raised three major challenges for transatlantic relations. First, the traditional core of the relationship, the security of Europe, has been redefined. Transatlantic relations have been ...
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The transatlantic security relationship is currently in crisis and the reasons for this are the focus of this timely book. The security relationship has been at the heart of transatlantic co-operation since the onset of the Cold War and has been the foundation on which the stability of Europe has been built. But the post-Cold War period has raised three major challenges for transatlantic relations. First, the traditional core of the relationship, the security of Europe, has been redefined. Transatlantic relations have been forced to cope with European pressures for greater defence autonomy, for the enlargement of security organizations to take in former adversaries from Central and Eastern Europe, and for new military roles to be undertaken, such as peace enforcement and peacekeeping. Second, America has called upon Europe to share a greater proportion of the global security burden. This has focused attention not only on disagreement in transatlantic perspectives, such as over the Middle East, but has led to questions about America's willingness to share its leadership position and be constrained by the views of others. Finally, the transatlantic security relationship has been forced to confront new security threats, such as terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. These are fresh concerns in the sense that they have not hitherto been regarded as matters for US-European co-operation. Recent events such as the 1999 war in Kosovo, the European Union's decision to create a Rapid Reaction Force and the US policy of proceeding with a ballistic missile defence capability have all contributed to tensions in transatlantic relations. To this agenda of issues have been added the US-led "War on Terrorism", following the attacks on September 11, and the war against Iraq. The transatlantic relationship has entered a new and highly uncertain period. This book looks at the three main facets of the transatlantic security relationship: the defence of Europe, global challenges and new security threats. It should be of interest to students of politics, security studies and international relations.
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