North America

""GCHQ is an increasingly public facing organisation particularly with regards to its role in cyber security. If it is to build the trust with the public and business necessary to be successful in this, it needs to distance itself from activities that could suggest a more nefarious role. The organisation has come a long way in recent years with regards to its openness and whilst there is still more to do, allegations such as this could undermine that progress. Thus a robust and open response to Fox News was not just desirable but essential." "

GCHQ was right to slap down Sean Spicer's comments – it needs to build trust, not conspiracies

"Ewan Lawson, senior fellow for military influence at the Royal United Services Institute told SC that if one is inclined to believe that the Russian government uses non-state groups to carry out its offensive operations, this makes sense. If Cozy Bear is one such proxy, “it is likely that they will have come across material that the state did not wish to use but which provided an opportunity to make a little money. If those individuals/groups were previously cyber criminals then it is perhaps even less surprising." "

Are Russian Cozy Bears blackmailing liberal American groups?

NATO and the North Atlantic: Revitalising Collective Defence

Edited by John Andreas Olsen

NATO will need to respond effectively to Russia's return to the North Atlantic.

"'There is a need to revamp NATO’s antiquated and baroque decision-making structures, which are almost as much of a drag on the alliance’s efficiency as is the lack of adequate European capabilities.' "

The Real Problems With NATO

"So McMaster is seasoned at both talking and fighting, and fighting as talking, and is comfortable with the political nature of defence and security. But that does not equate to a powerful influence on US policy and the prospects for success, in this his latest and toughest assignment, are uncertain at best. "

HR McMaster is popular and respected – that doesn't mean Donald Trump will listen to him

A Bull in a China Shop: How Trump Could Shatter Non-Proliferation Efforts

Tom Hickey

Despite Donald Trump’s presidential election campaign rhetoric, the US still has a central role to play in international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. The hope is that Trump’s defence officials and the international community will have a steadying influence on the new president.