Iraq can be considered the 'perfect storm' which brought out the stark differences between the US and Europe. The disagreement over the role of the United Nations continues and the bitterness in the United States against its betrayal by allies like France is not diminishing. Meanwhile, the standing of the United States among the European public has plummeted. Within Europe, political tensions between what US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld euphemistically called the 'Old' Europe and the 'New' Europe continue to divide. To fully comprehend these rifts, this volume takes a specific look at the core security priorities of each European state and whether these interests are best served through closer security collaboration with the US or with emerging European structures such as the European Rapid Reaction Force. It analyzes the contribution each state would make to transatlantic security, the role they envisage for existing security structures such as NATO, and the role the US would play in transatlantic security.

Contents: Introduction: US security policy and the new Europe, Tom Lansford. Old Europe: French security agenda in the post-9/11 world, Robert J. Pauly, Jr; A changing view of responsibility? German security policy in the post-9/11 world, Scott Brunstetter; Britain and transatlantic security: negotiating two bridges far apart, Mary Troy Johnston; Russia and the 'Old' Europe versus 'New' Europe debate: US foreign policy and the Iraq War 2003, Mira Duric; Benelux security policy, Dirk C. van Raemdonck; Italian security in the Berlusconi era: business as usual, Mark Sedgwick. New Europe: In search of security: Bulgaria's security policy in transition, Blagovest Tashev; The dilemma of 'dual loyalty': Lithuania and transatlantic tensions, Dovile Budryte; Czech Republic's Role with regard to the trans-atlantic security challenges, Petr Vancura; Poland's security and transatlantic relations, Andrzej Kapiszewski with Chris Davis; Slovakia, Ivo Samson; Hungary, László Valki; Romania's position towards the evolution of the transatlantic link after 11 September 2001, Mihail E. Ionescu; Conclusion: values and interests: European support for the intervention in Afghanistan and Iraq, Michael Mihalka; Select Bibliography; Index.