The global financial and economic crisis has highlighted the extent to which Europe and America are dependent on other states such as China as they try to resolve global problems. Similarly, in the field of foreign and security policy the transatlantic partners are increasingly running up against the limits of their power. Thus the envisaged political goals have been attained neither in Iran nor in Afghanistan. In recent years, despite a great deal of political pressure and sanctions, Iran has continued to expand its nuclear programme. And in Afghanistan the NATO mission seems to be further away than ever from achieving success.

At the 145th Bergedorf Round Table in Washington, politicians, diplomats and experts from the US, Germany and other European states discussed the opportunities for and the limits of transatlantic cooperation in a new world order. The debate centred on the question of how and with what partners Europe and the US might perhaps attain their foreign and security policy goals. How can the international nuclear non-proliferation regime be strengthened and how can an agreement be reached with Iran on the nuclear standoff? How can the effects of state failure be mitigated? And will the new NATO strategy in Afghanistan turn out to be a success?

Contents:

• The Transatlantic Relations
• The West in a New World Order
• Non-Proliferation and Nuclear Disarmament
• Test Case Iran
• State Failure
• Turning the Tide in Afghanistan?