Atlantic Council blogs

Why Nord Stream II is Not Only Eastern Europe’s Problem

By Sijbren de Jong

In November of 2015 the Council of State in the Netherlands decided that natural gas production in the province of Groningen should be capped at 27 billion cubic metres (bcm) per year. As the region suffers from earthquakes due to natural gas production, the level of such is a delicate topic for the Dutch political […]

Public-Private Partnerships on Cybersecurity Seen as Key to Pass Effective Security Legislation

Increased cooperation between government cybersecurity officials and independent hacker communities can lead to streamlined and higher quality legislation for technology security measures, according to cybersecurity expert. “We are seeing a change from a completely adversarial relationship between the government and the hacker community and it’s starting to thaw a bit where there is a lot […]

Aleppo’s Last Doctors’ Plea to Obama

By Doctors of Aleppo

15 of the remaining doctors in eastern Aleppo have written a desperate plea to President Obama, begging him to act to stop the bombs and to protect the 300,000 people who remain in what was Syria’s largest city. The appeal comes after opposition troops lifted a month-long siege during which pro-government troops cut the city […]

Is Putin Preparing a New Attack on Ukraine?

By Anders Åslund

Observers have greatly feared that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin would start a small regional war this August. Russia has moved up its State Duma elections to September 18. Although only Putin’s parties are allowed to win, he has a predilection for “small and victorious wars” to mobilize his people. In 1999, the second war in […]

Kramatorsk, Two Years On

By Hannah Thoburn

Kramatorsk is one of the most American cities that I have encountered in Ukraine. It is not laid out in the walkable format that most Ukrainian towns and villages have. Rather, it has a wide, broad layout, with extensive blocks. It is a city in which a car is almost a necessity. And that is […]

Turkey’s Outreach to Russia

By Aaron Stein

As President Recep Tayyip Erdogan makes his first international visit in the wake of an attempted coup against his government, Turkey’s recent outreach to Russia comes as part of a broader effort to recalibrate Turkish foreign policy, following years of political isolation.

What Business in Ukraine is Really Like

By Thomas Theiner

A Response to James Brooke James Brooke truly believes that investors should sink their money into Ukraine. He couldn’t be more wrong. Every roulette table in Las Vegas is more promising than Ukraine. I know from personal experience; I lived in Kyiv for five years and knew a few dozen foreigners who invested in Ukraine. […]

Ocean Energy and Minerals Security: A New Strategic Cooperation Policy for US-Portugal Relations

By Ruben Eiras

Ocean energy and rare earth minerals security has the potential to become a valuable strategic cooperation policy area between Portugal and the United States. At the minimum, it is a logical consequence of the major transatlantic geopolitical elements that unite both countries.

NATO Spokesperson: Turkey’s ‘Membership is Not in Question’

By NATO

In view of speculative press reports regarding NATO’s stance regarding the failed coup in Turkey and Turkey’s NATO membership, let me stress NATO’s very clear position.

Can Riyadh Make the Case for Stronger Partnership?

By Frederic C. Hof

The leaders of the Saudi Kingdom worry that the foundation undergirding a 70-year partnership with the United States is eroding. A pro-Iran narrative assigning the fatherhood of jihadist extremism to Saudi Arabia picks up steam, while White House denizens make no secret of their displeasure with the Kingdom. Even the President of the United States […]