Atlantic Council blogs

An Emerging Third Industrial Revolution

By Banning Garrett

 Politicians and policymakers understandably focus almost exclusively on near-term problems and crises. They often operate in reactive mode as hotspots and domestic political pressures set priorities. But their “global operating environment” (GOE) is rapidly changing, often in ways that affect national security challenges and choices in the present as well as in the future. To […]

Eurasia’s Captive Nations

By Damon Wilson

During the Cold War, against all odds and the tenets of realpolitik diplomacy, every White House and US Congress championed the cause of the ‘captive nations’ of central and eastern Europe locked behind the Iron Curtain. The accession over the next two decades of Poland, Estonia, and others to NATO and the European Union ended Cold War […]

The Nuclear Deal with Iran and the Law of Unintended Consequences

By Harlan Ullman

The Thanksgiving holiday and the consumer shopping frenzy over “Black Friday” last week temporarily captured America headlines obscuring for a brief spell, the nuclear deal that, if consummated, will assure Iran will not develop nuclear weapons. But make no mistake. Debate over the agreement signed by the P5+1, the European Union, and Iran will fill […]

Obama Refocuses on Asia

By Robert A. Manning

Sometimes foreign-policy success occurs almost inadvertently—and when least expected. When President Obama cancelled his planned visit to Asia in October during the recent US government shutdown, doubts amongst many in the region over the durability of the US “pivot” to Asia reached a crescendo. But a cascade of recent events, highlighted by B-52s defying a Chinese air-defense identification […]

President Obama Meets Colombia’s President Santos at the White House

READ MORE LatAmSource: Santos Dinner at the Council Santos, Powell, Other Dignitaries at Dinner President Obama and President Juan Manuel Santos of Columbia spoke to the press after their bilateral meeting in the Oval Office. The two leaders discussed cooperation on promoting citizen security, respect for human rights, and economic prosperity for all Colombians, as […]

Living in Putin’s Neighborhood

By Damon Wilson

Not much unites former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, currently serving a 7-year prison sentence, and the man who put her there — and won’t release her — Ukraine’s president, Viktor Yanukovych. Yet, each tells a similar story of humiliation and debasement in their dealings with Vladimir Putin.

Kerry: 2014 will be ‘a Pivotal Time for NATO’ and the Transatlantic Relationship

By John Kerry, Department of State

2014 is really going to be a pivotal time for NATO and for a transformation that is taking place with respect to NATO engagement and responsibilities.

Kerry Urges Ukrainian Government to ‘Listen to the Voices of Its People’

By John Kerry, Department of State

I’d like to just spend a brief moment, if I can, saying something about events that the whole world is watching, and that is the situation in Ukraine.