Arthur I. Cyr's blog

Considerable press attention is focused on the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington this weekend. The gathering this year is particularly important, given the continuing global financial turmoil and recession.

President Barack Obama has moved to address another presidential campaign promise by urging the worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons. He made the point with notable drama as well as attention in Prague in the Czech Republic earlier this month.

After a brief stop in Mexico City for discussions with President Felipe Calderon, President Barack Obama departed Friday for the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, two islands comprising a nation off the coast of Venezuela. The leaders focused on the enormous drug traffic from Mexico into the United States, including the alarming and growing associated violence.

Honoring a campaign commitment, President Barack Obama has very slightly loosened very tight restrictions on interchange with Cuba. Cuban-Americans may now travel and send financial remittances to the island nation. Additionally, in what may prove a more important shift in strategic terms, telecommunications companies will now be allowed to pursue licensing agreements in Cuba.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the Bush Cabinet officer who agreed to remain in place in the Obama administration, is demonstrating considerable policy courage.

The just concluded G20 summit in London has underscored the seriousness and complexity of our global economic challenges, but also the determination of member governments to address these vexing problems. Discussions were focused, concrete outcomes resulted and there is room for optimism.

President Barack Obama’s trip to Europe has been a success, especially in media and public relations terms. Including both the European Union and NATO dimensions of Atlantic area relationships reinforces awareness of association between economic growth and military security.

The visit of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia to Washington has taken place underneath much of the U.S. media radar, receiving relatively little attention. Smaller nations generally experience that fate, especially currently with our overriding focus on large-scale global economic turmoil.

France, after following a course separate from NATO for more than four decades, is returning to the fold. This significant shift is due to the insight and initiative of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, along with the long-term tolerance and patience by alliance partners, including the United States.

The conference last weekend outside London of finance officials from the Group of 20 nations, followed this week by a Brussels summit of European Union leaders, are the latest benchmark events in the international financial crisis and recession.