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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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IranSource

Sep 16, 2019

From overtures for US talks to threats of war with Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Rejected again and embarrassed by the escalation in the Persian Gulf his policies have incentivized, Trump is likely to make similar belligerent comments this year and US-Iran relations will only worsen.

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2019

After Houthi drone attack, everyone should take a deep breath

By Kirsten Fontenrose

The ten-drone attack on Aramco’s Abqaiq facility in Saudi Arabia on September 14 is a sign that the Houthis suffer from false confidence. Snubbing talks and launching attacks is not a way to garner sympathy from the United States or the international community.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Sep 13, 2019

Europe moves to curb ISIS antiquity trafficking

By Brooks Tigner

Global trafficking of fake and stolen antiquities is worth a whopping forty-five billion dollars a year, of which twenty billion is generated in Europe alone.

European Union Terrorism
Baltic Sea Security, NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 13, 2019

The importance of Baltic navies ensuring Baltic Sea security

By Adm. James G. Foggo III

The commander of US Naval Forces Europe and Africa and NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples argues that "a strong alliance of navies will enable us all to maintain the most basic human rights: freedom and safety."

Maritime Security NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 12, 2019

A potential path forward for Hong Kong?

By David A. Wemer

Beijing needs to give the Hong Kong government "some space" to effectively address the concerns of its citizens, former US general consul to Hong Kong Kurt Tong said.

China Rule of Law

MENASource

Sep 12, 2019

Factbox: Tunisia’s precarious 2019 presidential election

By Adam Aluzri and Christiana Haynes

Voting booths open for the Tunisian presidential election this Sunday, September 15, in one of the world’s youngest democracies. Tunisians will be selecting their second president from among twenty-six candidates, including two women, with hopes of a new vision for addressing pressing issues about the economy, security, and political reform.

Democratic Transitions Elections

SyriaSource

Sep 12, 2019

War and art: The graffiti movement in Syria

By Rana Riziq

A local Syrian civil society organization, Kesh Malek, is focused on supplying humanitarian aid and services to Syrians throughout Syria. One of its successful media campaigns this year is the Syria Banksy project.

Civil Society Syria

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2019

What Zelenskyy’s perfect picture is missing

By Olena Prokopenko

The future of Ukraine’s key reform driver, its vibrant civil society, is missing and seriously threatened both by internal and external challenges.

Civil Society Elections

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2019

Ukraine’s libertarian revolution

By James Brooke

Many Ukrainian free marketers are sulking in the sidelines because they misread the Zelenskyy movement last spring.

Elections Macroeconomics

UkraineAlert

Sep 10, 2019

Removing the stigma: Ukraine launches suicide prevention hotline for veterans

By Peter Dickinson

Mental health issues remain largely taboo in Ukrainian society, where the prevalence of traditional machismo culture has long fueled a “boys don’t cry” mentality

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding