Atlantic Council blogs

Who is in Egypt’s New Cabinet?

Prime Minister designate Ibrahim Mehleb announced on Thursday that he is finalizing the list of names chosen for Egypt’s new cabinet, to be presented to interim President Adly Mansour on Saturday. According to initial reports, at least seventeen ministers will remain in their positions, nine new ministers will join the cabinet, and five portfolios have […]

NATO Warns Russia on Ukraine

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s top official warned Russia on Thursday not to take any actions that could escalate tension in Crimea.

Top News: UNSC establishes sanctions committee for Yemen

By MENASource

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a resolution to form the sanctions committee responsible for imposing sanctions on actors fueling unrest in Yemen and seeking to derail the transition process.

Top News: Egypt’s New Presidential Election Law to Be Issued March 1

By EgyptSource

A new law aimed at regulating Egypt’s upcoming presidential elections is expected to be issued March 1, a week earlier than expected. A judicial council should likely finish revising the law in the next few days and then submit it to interim President Adly Mansour, who is expected to officially endorse and issue the law […]

Syria: Time To Review the Bidding

By Frederic C. Hof

Well first of all, David, this is not a genocide. It’s a horrific civil war that has spilled over and infused the neighboring states. It’s one that we have worked very hard to end, through support to the opposition, through humanitarian assistance, through active and aggressive diplomacy. And David, we have every interest in trying […]

Tunisia, the United States, and Terrorism

By Bassem Bouguerra

Tunisia has recently celebrated the birth of a new constitution to mark the accomplishment of a major milestone towards democracy. The announcement of the constitution was shortly followed by the inauguration of a new government of independents headed by Mehdi Jomaa to put an end to a political deadlock that polarized the nation and placed the […]

Would the Loss of Ukraine Harden Russia Policy on Syria?

By Barbara Slavin

Why do despots invariably have such atrocious taste?  Ukrainians wandering wide-eyed through the palace outside Kyiv of fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych simultaneously marveled and gagged at the gilded furniture, stuffed dead cats and gold bathroom fixtures. But their elation at overturning their corrupt, if elected, president could fade quickly if Russia’s elected, if authoritarian, president Vladimir […]

Christians, Mostly, Embracing Sisi

By Jayson Casper

Ultimately, the formation of a new government in Egypt should be about one word: Competency. But the current nature of politics substitutes another word entirely: Sisi. Local analysis revolves around the question of what the development means in terms of the defense minister’s anticipated candidacy for president, and when he will take off his uniform […]

Hagel Says Europeans Should Step Up NATO Support

By AP, Wall Street Journal, and Reuters

From Robert Burns, AP:  U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday the European allies must start bearing more of the burden of modernizing NATO or risk it becoming irrelevant.