Introduction

This book seeks to illuminate a relatively new sphere of transatlantic security cooperation: countering the threat from international terrorism. This cooperation began in the post-Cold War period but it has only gathered momentum since the 11 September 2001 (9/11) attacks on the United States. It has not evolved out of a vacuum, however. Rather, this cooperation has grown out of a relationship that has been rich in security collaboration since the end of the Second World War. Before investigating the emergence of US-European counter-terrorism cooperation it is necessary to place it within the context of a security relationship that has spanned the last fifty years.