From Philip Stevens, Financial Times:  Mr Obama’s nominations of John Kerry to the state department and Chuck Hagel to the Pentagon would fill these two top posts with politicians that Europeans should clamour to do business with.

From Julian Lindley-French, New Atlanticist:  NATO’s role in the Pacific I hear you ask?

The Atlantic Alliance is about to enter a tumultuous period of change both in Europe and the wider world. How we all conceive of our place in that world will be critical to the Alliance.

From NATO:  The North Atlantic Council expresses its grave concern at North Korea’s declared intent to launch a rocket using ballistic missile technology this month.

From Robert Kagan, Washington Post:  No one was suggesting the United States could or ought to have all the answers, but among this gathering of Arab, North African, South Asian and European diplomats and international civil servants,

U.S. President Barack Obama is underscoring the administration's "strategic pivot" to Asia with a trip to the Pacific. This column has criticized this pivot and the botched public diplomacy campaign that managed to irritate friends, allies and, of course, China.

From NATO Parliamentary Assembly:  Lawmakers from NATO nations issued a series of warnings to Allied governments Saturday highlighting the need to maintain credible defence spending in the face of the economic crisis.

From Anna Mulrine, Christian Science Monitor:  As the Pentagon sets its strategic sights on the Asia-Pacific region – warning of the rise of China and the growing importance of naval power – some US military commanders are concerned about the fate of America’s relationships with its traditional allies in Europe.

From Severin Weiland, Spiegel:  So what does Obama's re-election actually mean for Germany? Will the president set a new tone in German-American relations in the coming four years?

From Josef Joffe, Commentary:  It almost goes unnoticed that the United States is closing a long chapter in its Atlantic history.