Atlantic Council blogs

Anti-Terror Financing Rules Choke Somali Remittances

On February 6, 2015, one of the last Western banks willing to transfer money to Somalia on behalf of the country’s diaspora—transfers which represent up to 80 percent of all funds sent from the US to Somalia—ceased operations, cutting off one of the diaspora’s last options to support relatives and friends still in Somalia.

Ukraine’s Fate Hangs in the Balance in Minsk, Once Again

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The leaders of France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine are meeting in Belarus’ capital Minsk on February 11 to hammer out a deal to end the fighting in eastern Ukraine. The meeting takes place against a backdrop of a worsening conflict as Russian-backed separatists made a push to take new territory and consolidate their strongholds in […]

Obama to Cameron: Maintain UK Defense Spending or Weaken NATO

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

Barack Obama has told David Cameron that Britain must stick to its Nato spending target, or set a damaging example to its European allies.

Putin’s Visit to Egypt: Much Pomp but Little Circumstance

By Mark N. Katz

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a widely publicized visit to Egypt from February 9 to 10.   The government-backed Egyptian press gushed over how well Russia (unlike America) treats the Egyptian government.  Some commentary in the Russian press proclaimed the visit to be another sign that Russia was gaining influence in the Middle East while America […]

Top News: US Embassy Closes, Houthis Seize Vehicles

By MENASource

Houthi rebels took all US embassy vehicles parked at the Yemeni capital’s airport and would not allow departing US Marines to take their weapons with them.

TTIP Action | February 10

By Global Business & Economics Program

  Speeches & Official Announcements German Chancellor Angela Merkel: TTIP Is in our Interest “I believe the benefits [of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] significantly outweigh [its] potential risks.” Ahead of her trip to the US and Canada, Chancellor Merkel said that a transparent discussion is needed to address the often unwarranted fears about […]

Top News: Prosecution Says Sabbagh Killer in Custody; Two More Islamist Parties Boycott Elections

By EgyptSource

The Qasr al-Nil prosecution announced Tuesday that the killer of leftist activist Shaimaa al-Sabbagh is in custody, but their identity will be revealed by Prosecutor General’s office within days.

Putin Security Aide Warns US Over Arms For Ukraine

By Kathrin Hille, Financial Times

A key security adviser to Russian president Vladimir Putin has accused the US of seeking to drag Russia directly into war in Ukraine through a possible plan to arm Kiev, underlining the seriousness with which Moscow would greet such a move.

Lessons for Sinai from Yemen

By Nervana Mahmoud

Following the recent major attacks by militants that killed at least twenty-seven people, mostly soldiers, in Sinai, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi made two important decisions. He has established a unified military command east of the Suez Canal to fight radical groups in the Sinai Peninsula. He has also pledged $1.3 billion to develop the […]

Top News: American ISIS hostage Kayla Mueller confirmed dead

By MENASource

The United States has confirmed the death of aid worker Kayla Mueller, who had been held hostage since August 2013 by the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) after being captured in Syria.