Atlantic Council blogs

Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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AfricaSource

Jun 12, 2026

Somalia is the dark horse in US defense and economic strategy

By Maureen Farrell, Rose Keravuori

US policymakers have long viewed Somalia primarily through a counterterrorism lens. But as major maritime supply routes come under strain, its position along key sea lanes is reshaping its geopolitical relevance—and external actors like Turkey are already moving to capitalize.

Africa Security & Defense

Econographics

Jun 12, 2026

As the US targets Brazil’s payment system, Europe should pay close attention 

By Alisha Chhangani

In its determination on Brazil’s trade practices, the USTR has zeroed in on the instant payment system Pix—raising alarms not only in Brasília but also in Brussels.

Brazil Digital Currencies

EnergySource

Jun 12, 2026

How to build energy resilience in an uncertain, contested world

By Charles Hendry, David L. Goldwyn, Lee Beck, Phillip Cornell, Ben Cahill

Read the reflections of Atlantic Council experts on the 2026 Global Energy Forum that explored how the US, allies, and partners can fortify interconnections against the weaponization of energy.

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

EnergySource

Jun 12, 2026

Conflicts are jolting energy systems. Will they cause ‘structural breaks’?

By Global Energy Center

At the 2026 Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum, policy experts shared lessons learned from ongoing wars and explored potential future energy outcomes.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

MENASource

Jun 11, 2026

The Iran war is a game of liar’s poker

By Khalid Azim

The central question has not simply been who possesses power, but who is willing to absorb pain, tolerate risk, and continue escalating when conventional logic suggests restraint.

Conflict Iran

UkraineAlert

Jun 11, 2026

Putin can no longer shield ordinary Russians from the war he unleashed

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

Ukraine’s recent drone strikes on St. Petersburg provided arguably the most visible indication to date that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion is not going according to plan, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Conflict Defense Technologies

EnergySource

Jun 11, 2026

Caribbean countries are feeling the squeeze from this energy crisis—and not just from gas prices

By Katherine Golden

At the 2026 Global Energy Forum, two Caribbean leaders explained that small island developing states are feeling the pinch of this crisis, in the form of high gas prices and shrinking climate adaptation finance.

Caribbean Climate Change & Climate Action

Econographics

Jun 11, 2026

What the US can learn from Europe on prediction markets—and vice versa

By Todd Phillips

Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket have surged to billions in trading volume, prompting US investigations into insider trading and manipulation. As Congress weighs new rules, Europe’s crackdown on retail binary options offers a possible—if imperfect—regulatory template.

Economy & Business European Union

EnergySource

Jun 10, 2026

Leading bipartisan lawmakers on how to achieve US energy ‘dominance’

By Katherine Golden

At the 2026 Global Energy Forum, lawmakers leading the charge on US energy security discussed their efforts and the role that allies can play.

China Critical Minerals

EnergySource

Jun 10, 2026

Europe’s route out of this energy crisis, as mapped by Cyprus and Greece

By Katherine Golden

At the 2026 Global Energy Forum, Greece's Stavros Papastavrou and Cyprus’s Michael Damianos outlined how the energy system is reshaping around the Eastern Mediterranean.

Energy & Environment