The controversial and costly Nord Stream 2 pipeline is intended to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. As it nears completion, European countries and the U.S. continue to disagree over the advantages and disadvantages – and possible security threats – of the pipeline.

We asked some of our transatlantic, Russia, and energy-focused experts to share their thoughts on the implications of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline for Europe's security and energy supply, transatlantic relations, and policy toward Russia, as well as what actions the U.S. and European countries should take at this point.  

Experts from the Belfer Center’s Project on Europe and the Transatlantic Relationship and Future of Diplomacy Project shared their thoughts on the significance of the UK’s departure from the European Union.

Most important was Trump’s foreign policy of “America First” that rejected the multilateralism and cooperative philosophy, which had not only formed the basis of Europe’s relations with the US but of the post-war order established under American leadership.

The migration and refugee crisis is getting worse. Though the sudden influx of migrants into Europe in 2015/2016 did not repeat itself today’s overall figures speak for themselves: 26 million refugees worldwide, 800 thousand apprehensions at the US-Mexican border, 184 thousand asylum applications in Germany in 2018, 120 thousand in France and 581 thousand in the European Union.

President Trump’s Iran policy, even if it does not lead to war, is one of the worst examples of self-inflicted harm and collateral damage to the international community in the history of US foreign policy.

As every year the General Assembly will have to address the multitude of problems in the world from the war in Yemen and the conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, the turmoil in Venezuela to the challenges of development. But this year it must in addition focus on trends that threaten the very basis of world order.

The world is holding its breath as it watches the final 60 days of Britain under Boris Johnson completing its frenzy of self-harm by leaving the European Union. At least that is the majority view in the democratic world even if the occupant of the White House applauds the event.

Whether NATO has a future amidst the challenges of the present era depends on several factors. First and foremost, NATO must survive the Trump Administration, whatever its duration.

The political scientist Karl Kaiser has warned against the blockade of a European defense policy by Germany.

In the 60s, Karl Kaiser went to Harvard to work for Henry Kissinger, and later, as a political scientist and SPD member, he advised the chancellors of the party on foreign policy issues. In conversation, he remembers his time with Willy Brandt and explains how he underestimated Donald Trump.