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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 10, 2026

Western leaders must abandon false hopes of negotiated peace with Putin

By Oleksandr Merezhko

If Western leaders seek a sustainable peace in Europe, they must abandon false hopes of a negotiated deal with Putin and instead demonstrate the kind of resolve that will make Russia listen, writes Oleksandr Merezhko.

Conflict European Union

UkraineAlert

Mar 10, 2026

Russian talk of protecting compatriots masks Putin’s imperial ambitions

By Agnia Grigas

Four years after Russia launched its full scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the international debate about how the war should end remains haunted by myths first promoted by the Kremlin more than a decade ago, writes Agnia Grigas.

Belarus Central Asia

MENASource

Mar 10, 2026

Will the Houthis join the Iran war?

By Allison Minor

Houthi involvement in the Iran war could reignite the Yemen war after four years of relative calm, with significant implications for Yemen and the region.

Conflict Iran

MENASource

Mar 10, 2026

How to understand the Iran war market swings: A geopolitical put option

By Khalid Azim

The two most important determinants of an option’s price are time to expiration and volatility.

Economy & Business Iran

Econographics

Mar 10, 2026

The renminbi is winning over Africa—but can it rival the dollar?

By Lize de Kruijf

In recent years, African governments have taken steps to reduce reliance on the dollar, but progress on their regional payment system has been slow—and in the meantime, China’s renminbi is quietly making inroads across Africa’s trade and finance networks.

Africa China

EnergySource

Mar 10, 2026

‘Energy dominance’ reconsidered: From domestic abundance to global strategic leverage

By Sara Vakhshouri

Recent geopolitical developments, including the war in Iran, reveal an expanding definition of "energy dominance."

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

Econographics

Mar 9, 2026

Middle powers are rewriting the playbook for gender‑equal growth

By Nicole Goldin

Middle powers are advancing gender-equal growth by pairing domestic economic reforms with coalition leadership in global institutions.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

UkraineAlert

Mar 5, 2026

Iran war could save Vladimir Putin’s failing Ukraine invasion

By Peter Dickinson

While Russia’s inability to assist Iran is undoubtedly embarrassing for the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin could still emerge as a key beneficiary of the escalating conflict in the Middle East, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

EnergySource

Mar 5, 2026

What the US can do to mitigate an impending energy crisis

By Ellen Wald

The United States has an opportunity to head off triple-digit crude oil prices by taking key steps.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

MENASource

Mar 5, 2026

The hidden friction with Reza Pahlavi and the Iranian opposition

By Marjan Keypour Greenblatt

Beneath the criticisms of the former crown prince lies a quieter fault line—one that is less about capacity and more about ideology.

Iran Political Reform