May 26, 2012
CRITICAL QUESTIONS
In CSIS's short analysis series, Critical Questions, CSIS experts provide quick answers to the essential questions posed by today’s top international events. For more information, please contact Andrew Schwartz at aschwartz@csis.org or (202) 775-32421.
Critical QuestionsMay 18, 2012The Obama administration announced May 17 that it would ease sanctions against Myanmar in response to the government’s recent political and economic reforms. Sanctions were suspended, not revoked, and the move still holds back U.S. companies from moving forward in some key sectors in Myanmar.
Critical QuestionsMay 17, 2012Emerging challenges to U.S. regional access and freedom of action have generated a great deal of conceptual debate over the past year. While access challenges transcend military threats, the Department of Defense (DoD) plays a unique role defending U.S. interests in the face of them.
Critical QuestionsMay 9, 2012On Sunday, May 6, Mexican voters got a rare chance to compare presidential contenders Enrique Peña Nieto (Institutional Revolutionary Party—PRI), Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Democratic Revolutionary Party—PRD), Josefina Vázquez Mota (National Action Party—PAN), and Gabriel Quadri de la Torre (New Alliance Party—PANAL) in the first of two nati
Critical QuestionsMay 4, 2012As the United States refocuses on the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening and deepening ties with its treaty allies and expanding its partnership with other countries has become a priority. In that context, the first United States–Philippines Ministerial Dialogue was held April 30 in Washington, D.C. The fact that the meeting took place days after U.S.
Critical QuestionsMay 4, 2012On May 7, Vladimir Putin will be inaugurated for his third term as president of Russia; this time for six years to 2018. On May 18, he is scheduled to meet with President Obama in the White House prior to the G-8 meeting at Camp David. This Critical Questions addresses key challenges for Putin and what we should expect in U.S.-Russia relations.
Critical QuestionsApr 25, 2012On April 10, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) suspended one of its fastest rising stars, Bo Xilai, from the Politburo for suspected “serious violations” of party discipline. The same day, the regime announced it also had detained Bo’s wife on “suspicion of intentional homicide” in the death of the Briton Neil Heywood.
Critical QuestionsApr 25, 2012Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan will meet with President Obama at the White House on April 30 to discuss a range of economic and security issues and reaffirm the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in a regional and global context.
Critical QuestionsApr 19, 2012There are fears that Sudan and South Sudan are edging closer to all-out war. The latest crisis has been precipitated by a dispute over oil, which propels the economies of both countries. South Sudan broke away from Sudan to become an independent nation in July 2011 but has been unable to agree on terms for using the North’s oil pipeline, its only route to selling its oil.
Critical QuestionsApr 7, 2012Q1: What is at stake for U.S.-Brazil relations at this time?
Critical QuestionsApr 6, 2012Last month, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps released the “Gaining and Maintaining Access” concept (GMAC). GMAC is a comprehensive discussion of the Army-Marine role in cracking future Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) challenges. GMAC—like AirSea Battle (ASB)—is subordinate to the recently released Joint Operational Access Concept (JOAC).
