Atlantic Council blogs

Iraq’s Abadi Caught between Global Powers and Domestic Politics

By Ramzy Mardini

After the White House succeeded in getting Bulgaria to close its airspace to Russian overflights last week, Moscow continues to buttress Syria’s embattled regime though Iranian and Iraqi airspace, despite US requests made as recently as September 5 for the Iraqis to assist in the effort to deny the Russians a supply line to Syria.

US Air Force General Calls For An F-22 Base In Europe

By Lara Seligman, Defense News

In light of Russia’s recent aggressive action in Europe, the commander of US Air Forces Europe is calling for a rotational F-22 Raptor base in the region.

Top News: UN Says Libya Lawmakers to Rejoin the House of Representatives

By MENASource

The United Nations said on Friday that Libyan lawmakers had agreed to reunify the country’s House of Representatives (HOR) in a step towards a final agreement, which aims to form a Government of National Accord.

Top News: Egyptian Cabinet Expected to be Sworn in by Saturday

By EgyptSource

Egypt’s newly appointed cabinet is expected to be sworn in and replace the government of outgoing Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab next Saturday, state-run Al-Ahram reported.

Egypt Downplays Reopening of Israeli Embassy

By Khaled Dawoud

All announcements on the official reopening of the Israeli embassy in Cairo last week came from Israel, while Egyptian officials were either silent or appeared to downplay the event. Egypt’s stance was likely an effort to avoid a backlash from the generally anti-Israeli public opinion. The announcement, nonetheless, was criticized by staunch opponents of President […]

EconSource: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia Sign Contracts Worth $300 Million for New Oil Pipeline

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have signed contracts worth around $300 million to lay a new 350,000 barrel per day (bpd) oil pipeline between the two countries, Bahrain’s Energy Minister Abdul-Hussain bin Ali Mirza said on Thursday.

Countering Extremism Through Proper Introductions

By Richard LeBaron and Jordan Lesser-Roy

Since 2002, over 8,000 Muslim teenagers have come to the United States through the State Department’s Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program, which allows the students to spend a year attending an American high school while living with an American family.

Investigative Journalists Present Exhaustive Report on ‘Kremlin’s Dirty War in Ukraine’

The Russian government under President Vladimir Putin is “directly coordinating and leading the fight to destabilize and disunite Ukraine”—despite Putin’s increasingly desperate efforts to hide the truth—concludes a damning report issued September 17. “An Invasion by Any Other Name: The Kremlin’s Dirty War in Ukraine” is a joint production of the New York-based nonprofit Institute […]

New Swedish Poll Shows Sharp Increase in Support for NATO Membership

By Defense News and Deutsche Welle

From Gerard O’Dwyer, Defense News:  A landmark poll in Sweden reveals a massive shift in public opinion that favors the non-aligned Nordic state joining NATO.

Swedish Minister Slams Russian ‘Threats’ About NATO Membership

By Local (Sweden)

Foreign Minister Margot Wallström said relations between Sweden and Russia are “chillier than ever” after she met with the country’s ambassador in Stockholm to ask him to explain comments that the Nordic country would likely face military action if it were to join NATO.