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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

Feb 27, 2019

The pictures which forced Zarif to resign reveal deep problems in the Iranian system

By Shahir Shahidsaless

The resignation of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif came as a shock, and not just due to the delivery system. He made the announcement on an Instagram post addressed to his followers instead of official channels. The timing was suspect as well. Zarif decided to leave office just as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Feb 27, 2019

Greece’s turnaround: From Achilles’ heel to regional bedrock

By Damon Wilson

Alexis Tsipras' government has helped bring Greece back in from the cold.

Greece

New Atlanticist

Feb 27, 2019

India and Pakistan on a steep escalatory ladder to war

By Shuja Nawaz

It is critical that leaders in India and Pakistan defuse the current situation before it becomes impossible to retrieve

India Nuclear Deterrence

UkraineAlert

Feb 27, 2019

The Eurovision guide to modern Ukrainian history

By Peter Dickinson

Anyone who feels that Eurovision has become too politicized need look no further than Ukraine for confirmation. Nobody takes the song contest quite as seriously as the Ukrainians, who treat it as an extension of foreign policy complete with furious nationwide debates and heavy-handed government interventions. The latest scandal, which has seen the winner of […]

Civil Society Conflict

MENASource

Feb 27, 2019

Algerian demonstrations: What they mean for the future of the elite and the country

By Karim Mezran and Erin A. Neale

Algerian elites are missing a Leopardian moment. Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa’s masterpiece, the Leopard—which has become a staple of political science—, expresses the intrinsic idea that elites must change in order to remain elites.

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2019

US withdrawal from nuclear arms control treaty could give Russia ‘free rein’

By David A. Wemer

In congressional testimony, Atlantic Council’s Alexander Vershbow says US allies concerned "we  may have given a gift to President Putin."

Arms Control Nuclear Deterrence

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2019

Brexit backtracking

By John M. Roberts

For a prime minister who has steadfastly refused to take a ‘No Deal’ Brexit off the agenda, this was a remarkable volte-face.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2019

Here are some economic incentives that could help move North Korea’s Kim toward denuclearization

By Jungbae Seo

If North Korea’s new strategic decision can be realized through upcoming negotiations, it will be able to reap substantial benefits from denuclearization.

Korea Nuclear Nonproliferation

SyriaSource

Feb 26, 2019

Syrian refugees’ struggle with temporary status in Germany

By Hosam al-Jablawi

Just a few months separated the arrival of Syrian refugees Ahmad al-’Awda and his friend Mahmud al-Agha to Germany. Both of them fled from the war in their country that started in 2011. Al-’Awda arrived in Germany in January 2016 and al-Agha arrived in May 2015. This short eight month difference separating their arrivals was enough to guarantee that al-’Awda would not be able to apply to bring his family, who are still in Syria, because he did not get permanent residency in Germany. Rather, due to a series of laws, the German authorities have been granting only temporary residence papers to Syrian refugees.

Germany Syria

IranSource

Feb 26, 2019

Is Saudi Arabia Pulling Pakistan Into War With Iran?

By Fatemeh Aman

For years, the Pakistani government has avoided taking sides between rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, but now it may be forced to choose. Pakistan is in dire need of financial support and the Saudis have the means to help. Will Pakistan accept the strings attached to Saudi generosity? Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) […]

Iran Pakistan