WPR Articles 03 Jun 2013 - 07 Jun 2013

The Pacific Alliance a New Center of Gravity in Hemispheric Trade

By: Eric Farnsworth | Briefing

The latest meeting of the Pacific Alliance on May 23 in Colombia was the best one yet. This new economic bloc—an effort by Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru to link their economies more closely—may be an emerging powerhouse in Latin America, and is one of the most potentially significant developments in hemispheric trade relations since negotiations to form a Free Trade Area of the Americas broke down in 2003.

Solar Panel Dispute Highlights EU Divisions on China

By: Famke Krumbmuller | Briefing

Last week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel openly disagreed with the European Commission’s plans to impose punitive tariffs against Chinese-made solar panels. The commission has accused China of unfair trade practices that undercut European producers. But Merkel’s concerns for German exports took precedence over EU solidarity, highlighting the difficulties Brussels has faced in forging a unified China policy.

Strategic Horizons: Obama's End to 'War' on Terror a Needed Corrective

By: Steven Metz | Column

In his speech at the National Defense University announcing a shift in U.S. national security strategy, President Barack Obama argued that terrorism still threatens, but the nature of the threat from al-Qaida has changed to an extent that U.S. strategy should emphasize nonmilitary tools over armed action. Rather than a retreat, Obama’s speech indicated a willingness to portray the conflict as it actually is.

World Citizen: Maduro Flailing in Venezuela

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

Three months have passed since Nicolas Maduro took power in Venezuela following the death of Hugo Chavez, and almost 50 days since he became the country’s elected president. However one chooses to date his tenure, there is no denying that, as president, Maduro so far looks anything but commanding in his job. Since his razor-thin electoral victory, he has battled a constant stream of awkward difficulties.

U.S.-China Entente Will Take More Than Obama, Xi Rapport

By: Iain Mills | Briefing

As U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, begin a three-day informal summit, commentators are hoping that a personal rapport between the two leaders might have significant effects on broader bilateral relations. But a major strategic shift is dependent on the two sides overcoming persistent disagreements and managing domestic pressures that limit the scope for a bold new departure.

More Diplomatic Fallout: A Summer of Political Storms Looms for U.N. By: Richard Gowan | Column Is the U.N. on the verge of a disastrous summer? The organization faces an especially perilous period as it tries to salvage peacemaking efforts in Syria, launch a peace operation in Mali and prepare to mount risky offensives against militias in the DRC. If the U.N. survives these challenges entirely unscathed, it will be more than just a masterpiece of multilateral crisis management. It will be a miracle. Liberty Reserve Indictment Shows Lack of Governance in Digital Currency By: Catherine Cheney | Trend Lines Last week, operators of the Liberty Reserve currency exchange were indicted for laundering $6 billion in part of a growing industry of online payment systems that allow illegal enterprises, from child pornography to weapons trafficking, to move money within an unregulated system. Global Insights: Hagel Reaffirms U.S. Pivot to Asia at Shangri-La By: Richard Weitz | Column At this weekend’s Shangri-La Dialogue, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel reaffirmed the core tenets of the Asia Pivot and showed how the Pentagon was still executing the strategy despite budgetary constraints and the departure from the Obama administration of some of its key architects. Yet reactions to the speech from Asian defense officials present made clear that the pivot continues to face serious obstacles. Turkey Protests Hit Erdogan’s Personal Standing in Region By: Catherine Cheney | Trend Lines A peaceful protest against plans to demolish Gezi Park in Istanbul, Turkey, turned violent last week when riot police responded with tear gas, and the local demonstrations quickly spread to other cities and transformed into a popular movement calling for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to resign. Global Insider: Japan Quick to Capitalize on Myanmar’s Changes By: The Editors | Trend Lines In an email interview, Sean Turnell, an associate professor in the economics department at Australia’s Macquarie University specializing in Myanmar, explained the recent trajectory of Japan’s ties to the country. Iran’s Outreach to Afghanistan, Tajikistan Faces Obstacles By: Kevjn Lim | Briefing Since 2005, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sought to revive Persian nationalism, contrasting it with the clerical elite’s claim to Islam as the basis of Iranian identity. Significantly, Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric was accompanied by concerted outreach to Afghanistan and Tajikistan, the geolinguistic remnants of Greater Persia. Despite the historical echoes, the effort is driven by strategic interests. For EAC, Trade Still Out Ahead of Political Integration By: Richard Downie | Briefing The bullish mood concerning Africa’s economic progress and potential is largely justified, but one of the most serious barriers limiting the scope for transformational growth is that African markets are not sufficiently open. Regional integration has the potential to unlock markets, provide economies of scale, increase competition and attract foreign direct investment, as the East African Community demonstrates. The Realist Prism: Obama’s Appointments Offer New Paths for Power Projection By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column In January, I wondered whether the appointment of John Kerry as secretary of state and Chuck Hagel as secretary of defense heralded a third installment of President Barack Obama’s approach to national security. Obama's pick this week of U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice as his national security adviser and Samantha Power as Rice's replacement in New York suggests a partial reversal of that approach, an Obama Doctrine 2.5.

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