The Obama Administration released its National Security Strategy directive today (I will not ask any quiz questions on the document itself). The directive is mandated by Congress and is supposed to be released every five years to provide guidance on the future strategic threats facing the United States. One obvious change from the previous directive issued in 2010 is the very heavy emphasis on alliances and burden-sharing, reflecting the Obama Administration’s desire to pull back from the extended foreign commitments of previous administrations.
US President Obama and German Chancellor Merkel met in Washington today to coordinate policy with respect to Ukraine. France and Germany have indicated that they do not wish to arm Ukraine; Obama is under intense pressure from Congress to do precisely that. But Chancellor Merkel is meeting with Russian officials in Belarus on Wednesday to discuss a new cease-fire in Ukraine. It is highly likely that Merkel will use the threat of US weaponry to force a cease-fire and she and Obama probably coordinated the specific details of that strategy. It is wonderful to see how diplomacy works behind the scenes.
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