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Atlantic Council blogs provide short-form analyses from Council experts and a wider community of global voices on the world’s most important news stories.
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UkraineAlert

Mar 23, 2020

Why Ukraine cannot risk recognizing Putin’s proxies

By Lisa Yasko

Many Ukrainians are alarmed by plans to create an Advisory Council together with representatives from Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Critics say the move will allow Russia to distance itself from the war.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

What Latin American countries are doing to confront coronavirus

By David A. Wemer

As governments in North America, Europe, Asia, and around the world continue to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), Latin American leaders are stepping up their efforts as cases are beginning to be documented in their countries. Although the number of cases across the region remains mostly lower than the epicenters in Europe and the United States, “we are not letting our guard down,” El Salvador’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandra Hill Tinoco said on March 23. “No one can guarantee us that it is not going to hit us,” she explained, so every Latin American government is taking the threat seriously.

Central America Colombia

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

Russia is out of control: The dangerous Mr. Sechin

By Anders Åslund

Russia is out of control. All of a sudden, it has launched an oil price war, even though it is unrealistic that the Kremlin can defeat Saudi Arabia and the United States in such a contest. Saudi Arabia’s population is one-fifth of Russia’s, while holding equivalent international currency reserves. The United States is still a net oil importer, meaning that its economy benefits from low oil prices. Russia, by contrast, is a major oil exporter and is utterly dependent on high oil prices.

Corruption Oil and Gas

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

Coronavirus could bring the United States’ East Asian allies closer to Beijing

By Miyeon Oh

Amid the continued coronavirus crisis in the US and Europe, companies that were trying to reduce their heavy reliance on China cannot help but reverse their moves to keep their supply chains open and operating.

China Japan

IranSource

Mar 23, 2020

A loan for Iran and a tragedy of a different kind

By Ali Dadpay

It is time for Iranian authorities to dismantle the barriers they have created to interact with the global business community.

Coronavirus Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

Last time in the waiting room for North Macedonia?

By Teri Schultz

While there may still be a day or two before written EU conclusions seal the political deal, the government of North Macedonia looks forward to the end of this waiting period and the beginning of the rest of its story. With so much gloom in the world right now, it would be an extremely welcome two weeks in Skopje.

European Union The Balkans

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Mar 23, 2020

Mr. and Mrs. Zelenskyy trip up on gender roles again

By Melinda Haring

Why does everything in the private sphere depend on Ukraine’s amazing women yet again?

Democratic Transitions Ukraine

The future is here

Mar 23, 2020

New York has half of US coronavirus cases; Fed support goes big

By Atlantic Council

New York now accounts for about half of all coronavirus cases in the United States, with deaths from the outbreak exceeding 15,000 worldwide. The US Federal Reserve launched a “whatever-it-takes” series of measures including bond purchases to shield companies and individuals from the economic impact of the pandemic. Governments around the globe ramped up restrictions, as Italy and Spain saw the death toll continue to rise.

Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2020

The Afghan Peace Process: Where do we go from here?

By Harris Samad

If the last twenty years teach us anything, it is that we do not have the answers for how best to support a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic Afghanistan. Perhaps it’s because we’ve not been asking the right questions.

Afghanistan Conflict

MENASource

Mar 23, 2020

Amid US uncertainty in Syria, Kurdish YPG eyes bolstering ties with Russia

By Matthew Ayton

The YPG leadership is said to be reassessing the strategic importance of its ties with what is an increasingly unreliable Washington, and is looking to further diversify its portfolio of international partners, with an eye toward strengthening ties with Russia.

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy