Atlantic Council blogs

Former NATO Commander Breedlove: Putin Feels Emboldened

By Philip M. Breedlove, Washington Times

[O]ur concerted focus on Russia’s interference in our election, as egregious as it was, puts us at risk of focusing on the wrong things.

Report Summary: The Local Administration in Deir Ezzor

By Husayn Hosoda

This summary based on the Justice for Life Organization report which describes a number of potential reforms for the governorate of Deir Ezzor in Syria once a political solution allows it to reintegrate into the state. The future of the Syrian state remains unclear, but in its current form is no longer the centralized power it […]

The Syrian Economy Post 2011

By Rashad al-Kattan

Nearly six years of conflict have dramatically altered Syria’s economy. To better understand these changes, SyriaSource interviewed Rashad al-Kattan, a researcher on Syria, about the state of Syria’s economy. His responses give insight into how, even as the Syrian regime is winning on the military front, the long-term economic challenges paint a more complex picture […]

What is the Significance of the Fight in Southern Syria?

By Haid Haid

On February 12, rebel groups launched an offensive named Almawt Wala al-Muzaleh [Death Rather than Humiliation] targeting regime-controlled areas in Daraa. The ongoing operation is reportedly an attempt to prevent pro-Syrian regime troops from gaining control of a strategic border crossing with Jordan. The attack — which followed a long period of decline in fighting since […]

Here’s How to Keep TTIP Alive

By Marie Kasperek

After fifteen rounds of negotiations with the United States on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) since 2013, European Union (EU) Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said that the free-trade deal is likely to be “in the freezer” until the new US administration has figured out its position on transatlantic trade. US President Donald Trump’s […]

A Reality Check for Russian Propaganda

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America launch a Russian-language news network The flurries of disinformation and fake news obfuscating the current state of affairs in Russia, and the Kremlin’s activity worldwide, have not created a post-truth world, but one in which some find truth increasingly difficult to promote. “I think we’ve given up […]

Lessons from a Regional Approach to Solving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

By Richard LeBaron

Towards the end of their press conference on February 15, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald J. Trump hinted at their evolving strategy to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict and broader Arab-Israeli differences through a regional approach.  Netanyahu: And I believe that the great opportunity for peace comes from a regional approach from […]

Trump Says He is a Fan of NATO, but Allies Not Paying Their Bills

By Donald Trump, Vox

The tired echoes of yesterday’s fights. We’re fighting battles that no longer help us. We’re fighting battles that other people aren’t treating us fairly in the fight.

Ukraine’s Bitter Struggle: The Prequel

By Diane Francis

Ukraine is a nation interrupted, its identity and promise stolen by predators for centuries. The predation continues today as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s creeping invasion of Ukraine grinds on, resulting in the murder of 10,000 Ukrainians, destruction of two major cities and its industrial base, seizure of nine percent of its land, and flight of […]