Resources - News

This section includes the latest news relating to U.S. security policy around the world. Updated daily, the news provided in this searchable database highlights the most relevant security developments from around the world. 

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NATO Hopes to Keep a Base in Afghanistan, U.S. General Says

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The leaders of the United States and other NATO nations are intensifying discussions about future support for Afghanistan, probably meaning at least some American troops will remain here well after President Obama leaves office.English
Country(s): 
Afghanistan
Author(s): 
Tim Craig
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Arms Sales
Military and Police Aid

Police Vs. Gangs War As El Salvador Murders Hit Record Highs

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
In May alone, more than 411 people, an average of 21 a day, were murdered in El Salvador. Just two months ago, the murder rate surged to its highest level in a decade, with March, El Salvador’s deadliest month in 10 years, recording 481 homicides. Now the country is on track to break that record. English
Country(s): 
El Salvador
Author(s): 
Brianna Lee
Publisher / Source: 
International Business Times
Tag(s): 
Violence
Criminal Organizations

Central Asia’s Future: Three Powers, Three Visions

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
China, Russia and the U.S. each have visions to connect Central Asia with the rest of Eurasia.English
Country(s): 
Eurasia Regional
Author(s): 
Dr. Jeffrey Mankoff
Publisher / Source: 
The Diplomat
Tag(s): 
Foreign Policy

Allegations Against French Peacekeepers Highlight Obstacles in Addressing Abuse

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
For five months, an unknown number of people in the French forces, sent to protect civilians from the violence tearing the country apart, forced boys to perform oral sex on them.English
Country(s): 
Central African Republic
Author(s): 
Somini Sengupta
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
U.N. Peacekeeping
Human Rights
Civil Society

Latin America Rethinks Drug Policies

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The United States has a strained relationship with several governments that have a major stake in the drug trade. In the years ahead, Washington may be able to strengthen regional cooperation if it places greater emphasis on the tools and expertise it has to offer.English
Country(s): 
South America Regional
Publisher / Source: 
The New York Times
Tag(s): 
Drug Trade
Drug Policy

Why the New Arab Military Pact Isn’t Worth The Ink It Was Written In

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
It sounds like plain common sense: a joint Arab military force to intervene in regional crises. Alas, the plan, drawn up yesterday by the Arab world’s military chiefs, will go no farther than the Cairo conference room where it was concocted.English
Country(s): 
Middle East and North Africa Regional
Author(s): 
Bobby Ghosh
Publisher / Source: 
Defense One
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Colombia Peace Process: Lurching Backwards

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Colombia’s peace process faces its most serious crisis yet, after the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) suspended a five month old unilateral ceasefire. Instead of more measures to de-escalate the conflict ahead of a final peace agreement, there are now new risks that the confrontation will escalate, causing fresh humanitarian damage, crippling trust between the parties and further weakening public support for the process. English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Publisher / Source: 
International Crisis Group
Tag(s): 
Conflict
Peace Negotiations

Carter: The US Military Is Training an Iraqi Army That Doesn’t Want To Fight

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
The Obama Administration has run out of patience with Iraq’s Army. On Sunday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” to discuss the recent fall of Ramadi, one of Iraq’s major cities, to ISIS. Despite possessing substantial advantages in both numbers and equipment, he said, the Iraqi military were unable to prevent ISIS forces from capturing the city. English
Country(s): 
Iraq
Author(s): 
Matt Schiavenza
Publisher / Source: 
Defense One
Tag(s): 
Counterterrorism

Opposition Breaks Off Burundi Peace Talks Over Killing of Opposition Leader

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Burundi’s opposition boycotted peace talks with the government on Monday in protest of the killing of an opposition leader, despite U.N.-led calls for dialogue to end a month of protests and violence in the east African country.English
Country(s): 
Burundi
Publisher / Source: 
The Washington Post
Tag(s): 
Conflict Resolution
Conflict
Violence

Joe Biden Tries to Buck Up Iraqis, Promises Training and Equipment

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Vice President Joe Biden called Iraq's prime minister Monday to try to smooth over a rough exchange of words between the two governments following the fall of important cities to Islamic State militants in recent days. English
Country(s): 
Iraq
Author(s): 
Christi Parsons
Publisher / Source: 
Los Angeles Times
Tag(s): 
Terrorism
Counterterrorism

Kenyan Police Clash with al-Shabab in Garissa County

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Kenyan police have been involved in a fierce gun battle with militant Islamists in north-eastern Garissa County, leaving one officer wounded.English
Country(s): 
Kenya
Publisher / Source: 
BBC News
Tag(s): 
Violence
Counterinsurgency
Civil Society

Turkey, U.S. to Provide Air Protection to Syrian Rebels

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Turkey and the U.S. have agreed in "principle" to provide air protection to Syrian rebels being trained and equipped to fight Islamic State militants, once they enter Syrian territory for battle, Turkey's foreign minister said. English
Country(s): 
Turkey
Syria
Author(s): 
Susan Fraser
Publisher / Source: 
Military Times
Tag(s): 
Military and Police Aid
Military Cooperation

Obama Wants to Visit Cuba, Spokesman Says

Friday, May 22, 2015
President Obama would like to visit Cuba before he leaves office, his spokesman said Thursday. “I know there's one person in particular who hopes President Obama will be in Havana at some point in the relatively [near] future, and that's President Obama himself,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest said. English
Country(s): 
Cuba
Author(s): 
Jesse Byrnes
Publisher / Source: 
The Hill
Tag(s): 
Foreign Policy

Colombian Army Kills 18 Farc Rebels

Friday, May 22, 2015
At least 18 Farc rebel fighters were killed during an operation by Colombia’s army on Thursday, in one of the most deadly confrontations since the guerrillas began peace talks with the government more than two years ago.English
Country(s): 
Colombia
Publisher / Source: 
The Guardian
Wire Service: 
AFP, EFE, Reuters
Tag(s): 
Conflict
Counternarcotics
Military

Armed Forces Mission Provides Aid to Poor Parts of Peru

Friday, May 22, 2015
The 5,000 inhabitants of this Quechua-speaking region in Peru's top cocaine-producing valley on Thursday got health care, medicine, eyeglasses and shoes from two mobile hospitals sent by the country's military.English
Country(s): 
Peru
Author(s): 
Franklin Briceno
Publisher / Source: 
The San Diego Union-Tribune
Wire Service: 
AP
Tag(s): 
Foreign Aid
Counternarcotics

Train-and-Equip Alone Will Not Help Tunisia

Friday, May 22, 2015
Tunisia has faced increasingly complex security problems since its uprising in 2011 and in the country’s post-revolution phase.English
Country(s): 
Tunisia
Author(s): 
Haykel Ben Mahfoudh
Publisher / Source: 
The Atlantic Council
Tag(s): 
Governance
Security

Guatemalan President Sacks 3 Ministers Amid Graft Scandal

Friday, May 22, 2015
Guatemala’s embattled President Otto Pérez Molina fired three ministers and his spy chief Thursday, seeking to get a grip on a deepening corruption scandal that already claimed his vice president.English
Country(s): 
Guatemala
Publisher / Source: 
The Tico Times
Wire Service: 
AFP
Tag(s): 
Corruption
Governance

Obama Says Tunisia to be Non-NATO Ally of U.S.

Friday, May 22, 2015
resident Barack Obama on Thursday elevated Tunisia to new allied status, promising financial and security assistance to ensure the North African country's transition to democracy remains a success in a fragile region.English
Country(s): 
Tunisia
Author(s): 
Nedra Pickler
Publisher / Source: 
The Associated Press
Tag(s): 
Security Assistance
Foreign Policy
Governance

Violence Grips Mexico Ahead of Midterm Elections

Friday, May 22, 2015
A wave of violence and intimidation has engulfed Mexico in recent weeks as the country prepares for midterm elections on June 7, with gunmen killing four candidates and kidnapping dozens of residents in Guerrero state — reviving fears that the still-unsolved disappearance of 43 students last September was not an isolated incident. English
Country(s): 
Mexico
Author(s): 
Renee Lewis
Publisher / Source: 
Aljazeera America
Tag(s): 
Violence

Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low

Friday, May 22, 2015
Israeli defense sales last year plunged to their lowest point in seven years, with just $5.66 billion in new contracts signed in 2014.English
Country(s): 
Israel
Author(s): 
Barbara Opall-Rome
Publisher / Source: 
Defense News
Tag(s): 
Security
Arms Sales

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