Atlantic Council blogs

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

Jan 2, 2020

Russia set to escalate fight against Ukrainian Orthodox independence in 2020

By Khrystyna Karelska and Andreas Umland

Moscow's refusal to accept the January 2019 decision to grant Ukraine Orthodox independence has split the entire Orthodox world. The schism is likely to worsen in 2020 as Russia fights to prevent the loss of a crucial foothold within Ukrainian society.

Civil Society Russia

MENASource

Jan 2, 2020

Iraq: It’s not over yet

By Thomas S. Warrick

No one should think this crisis is over. Iran’s stepped-up campaign to drive the United States out of Iraq will continue in other ways.

Iraq Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jan 2, 2020

Why we must talk to Russia

By Samuel Charap and Jeremy Shapiro

Right to reply: the Atlantic Council’s UkraineAlert recent published an article by Anders Aslund critical of the October 2019 RAND report “A Consensus Proposal for a Revised Regional Order in Post-Soviet Europe and Eurasia”. This article is a response to Aslund from two of the report’s authors.

Conflict Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jan 1, 2020

New low in US-Iraq relations: What’s next for 2020

By Abbas Kadhim

The attention on Iraq will shift away from the protesters and the reforms they are calling for to the “more newsworthy” events in the Green Zone and the aftermath of the attack on the US Embassy.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Dec 31, 2019

US strikes in Iraq and Syria: Managing the escalation

By C. Anthony Pfaff

It is a very bad idea to turn Iraq into a battlefield (again). However, it is a worse idea to let Tehran use certain militias to continue to derail Iraq’s recovery, reconciliation, and reconstruction. It is certainly the case that the United States will have to accept a role for Iran in Iraq; however, the Iranians will likewise have to accept a role for the United States. If they do not, then the fault for turning Iraq into a battlefield lies with them.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

EnergySource

Dec 31, 2019

How accounting for the externalities of carbon would affect end products

By Jennifer T. Gordon

Given the urgent need to decarbonize all sectors of the US economy, one of the broadest policy options that could steer both energy production and consumption in the right direction is the notion of putting a price on carbon.

Energy Transitions Oil and Gas
Buildings downtown

EnergySource

Dec 30, 2019

Shadow carbon pricing: What corporations can do in the meantime

By Jennifer T. Gordon

There are any number of reasons for corporations to participate in sustainability efforts. One of the greatest contributions that corporations can make to a zero-carbon future is setting a “shadow” price on carbon by placing a dollar value on emissions and making carbon commitments and investment choices accordingly.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions
Stock exchange

EnergySource

Dec 30, 2019

The Aramco IPO isn’t quite enough to realize MBS’s diversification ambitions

By Randolph Bell

After significant delays and a number of setbacks, Aramco finally listed shares representing 1.5 percent of the company’s total value on the domestic Tadawul exchange. The $25.6 billion that the IPO raised is nothing to scoff at, but it still is not enough to fully realize MBS’ ambitions. Where does the IPO go from here?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

New Atlanticist

Dec 29, 2019

Experts react: United States retaliates against Iran-backed forces in Iraq and Syria

By Atlantic Council

The United States launched a series of airstrikes against the Iranian-backed group Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq and Syria on December 29, 2019.

Conflict Iraq
Presidential debate stage

EnergySource

Dec 29, 2019

The reemergence of carbon pricing proposals

By Jennifer T. Gordon

There is a growing political acceptance of carbon pricing, both on the Hill and among presidential hopefuls. However, carbon pricing is by no means inevitable—where does the conversation go from here?

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Transitions