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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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MENASource

Nov 13, 2026

Syria shouldn’t join the Mecca Alliance. It should cooperate with it. 

By Ibrahim Al-Assil

Joining the alliance would expose Syria to a new set of threats and increase the chances of regional escalation.

Conflict Pakistan

Econographics

Nov 13, 2026

Same metric, still a mess: The geoeconomics of youth unemployment in China

By Nicole Goldin

China is aging too quickly to waste labor, yet it can't generate enough jobs to productively engage its young.

China Economy & Business
SAHARA

MENASource

Nov 13, 2026

Washington is reshaping security in North Africa. Congress needs to ask how.

By Frank Talbot

The next US Congress should demand clearer plans from the White House on its Western Sahara and Libya policies.

Libya North Africa

UkraineAlert

Nov 12, 2026

Putin’s chief negotiator vows to seize ‘every inch of Russian land’ in Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

The Kremlin’s uncompromising approach to negotiations with Ukraine was summed up by Russian delegation head Vladimir Medinsky's comment that “every inch of Russian land will be returned to Russia, one way or another,” writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Nov 12, 2026

Moldova cuts energy dependency on Russia with landmark new power line

By Aura Sabadus

Five years after Russia tried to bring Moldova to its knees through energy pressure, a landmark new power line has removed one of Moscow’s last remaining levers over the country, writes Aura Sabadus.

Conflict Critical Infrastructure Policy

Econographics

Nov 12, 2026

The digital yuan is only part of China’s expanding global payments network

By Alisha Chhangani

Beijing is building multiple layers of financial infrastructure to engage more partners and expand the reach of its renminbi.

China Digital Currencies

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Ukraine’s new drone blitz cuts Russian oil refining capacity by 30 percent

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine has renewed attacks on Putin's energy industry in recent days, conducting a series of powerful strikes that have reportedly cut Russian oil refining capacity by around 30 percent and sparked fuel shortages across the country, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Europe sees surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Europe has witnessed a surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents in recent weeks. This is fueling concerns that Vladimir Putin is escalating his intimidation campaign against Ukraine’s partners, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Conflict Cybersecurity

EnergySource

Nov 9, 2026

Why Belgrade’s new government should not let the Vertical Gas Corridor slip

By Olivier Van Pelt

Serbia’s incoming government should stay the course on the Vertical Gas Corridor to advance economic growth, energy security, and market transparency in line with the Student List’s reform agenda.

Central Europe Energy & Environment

UkraineAlert

Nov 5, 2026

Putin suffers Balkan setbacks as Russia struggles to retain influence

By Michael Getto

Russia’s recent setbacks in the Balkans are a reminder of the foreign policy challenges facing the Kremlin as the full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches a sixth year with no end in sight, writes Michael Getto.

Conflict Elections