Atlantic Council blogs

Maltese Candidates Have Different Views of European Union

By Matthew Lowell

Maltese voters face a choice in elections on June 3 between two prime ministerial candidates who have starkly different views on the path ahead for the European Union (EU) and their country’s role in a future EU army. On the question of whether the solution for the EU is more or less Europe, Maltese Prime […]

Election Will Shape France’s Relationship with Africa

By Mayecor Sar

To say that Africa is not a foreign policy priority in the French election would be an understatement. This is understandable, however, considering the dire state of France’s economy and the many international challenges the country faces. But because of France’s historically special relationship with its former colonies, would-be presidents can never completely disregard the […]

Russia’s De-Escalation Zone Plan for Syria is Doomed

The proposal for de-escalation zones in Syria, which will enter into force at midnight on May 5, is unlikely to be effective in the long term, according to an Atlantic Council analyst. “Maybe” the agreement will temporarily have a demonstrable effect on lowering the number of civilian deaths in Syria, said Faysal Itani, a senior […]

New Cyber Campaign Netrepser Compromised More than 500 Ministries and Departments Worldwide

By Sam Jones, Financial Times

Researchers have unearthed a new cyber espionage campaign that has compromised more than 500 government ministries and departments worldwide — by hiding in plain sight

Infighting Continues in Eastern Ghouta as the Regime Advances

By Ahmad Abazeid

A history of grudges and slow, back and forth battles between opposition groups in Ghouta shows little hope of being resolved, even as the regime and its allies bear down on Ghouta. A new round of fighting erupted between rebel factions on 28 April, 2017. Jaysh al-Islam launched a major offensive on Hayat Tahrir al-Sham […]

Germany Wants to Destroy Foreign Servers Carrying Out Cyber Attacks

By Andrea Shalal, Reuters

The head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency accused Russian rivals of gathering large amounts of political data in cyber attacks

Discussion with Raed Saleh from the White Helmets

By SyriaSource

SyriaSource interviewed Raed Saleh, head of the Syrian Civil Defense or “White Helmets” about his thoughts regarding the continued campaign against them, implementing safe zones, and how the last six months has affected their organization with regard to the new US administration as well as the changing dynamics on the ground in Syria.

US-Iran People-to-People Ties: An Enduring and Mutually Beneficial History

By Barbara Slavin

US cultural diplomacy programming and other exchanges have a long history of helping to improve US relations with adversaries, from the old Soviet Union to China and the Islamic Republic of Iran. They are an inexpensive and often overlooked element of US foreign policy that brings benefits to Americans and people all over the world.

How Not to Become a War Criminal: A Guide for Russian Soldiers

By Valentyn Badrak, Lada Roslycky, Mykhailo Samus, and Volodymyr Kopchak

Few Russian citizens view the Kremlin’s invasion into Ukraine as unlawful. Not many Russian servicemen realize that when they are fighting there, they fight as unnamed, faceless soldiers who lack the protection of international pacts, including the Geneva Conventions. They not only risk death, injury, or abandonment by the state that sent them there; they […]