Featured commentary and analysis

Featured experts

Program

Commentary and analysis

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2019

A final Brexit countdown?

By John M. Roberts

There’s a Brexit countdown in progress, but whether it’s counted in hours in order to end at midnight on October 16 or in days to end at midnight on Halloween is anybody’s guess.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Sep 24, 2019

Court decision rebukes Johnson, but will it strengthen his hand?

By John M. Roberts

The Supreme Court succeeded in making a unanimous ruling correct in law and seemingly devoid of political influence, but it could only strengthen the prime minister’s support among Brexit voters.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Westminster tries to rein Johnson in and avoid no-deal

By David A. Wemer

Arguing that the bill would mean he would lose all leverage with Brussels over a new withdrawal agreement, Johnson said “there is only one way forward for the country…there must now be an election.”

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

Aug 30, 2019

Boris Johnson: 1066 and all that

By John M. Roberts

Johnson—’minister for the Union’, as he has styled himself—now only represents one element of the United Kingdom, albeit the largest. When he addresses the House of Commons on Hastings’ Day, he will truly ‘Speak for England,’ and England alone.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2019

Will suspending parliament strengthen Boris Johnson’s Brexit hand?

By David A. Wemer

Johnson’s decision to call for a suspension—also known as prorogation—drew fire from MPs across the political spectrum who view it as an attempt to sideline Parliament in the lead-up to the October 31 Brexit deadline.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2019

No-Deal Brexit comes further into focus

By Nick Brown

Johnson’s political honeymoon lasted a matter of days. Financial markets are swiftly repricing the greater odds of a messy exit.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2019

With Boris Johnson, will Britain get Brexit or a general election?

By John M. Roberts

New UK prime minister will be tested quickly

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2019

Johnson takes the reins as Britain remains on uncertain Brexit course

By David A. Wemer

Johnson must quickly find a way forward along an increasingly uncertain Brexit road

United Kingdom
BRexit Sanctions

Program Impact Story

Jun 12, 2019

Britain’s sanction post-Brexit

By Atlantic Council

On June 12, the Global Business and Economics Program’s Economic Sanctions Initiative hosted a private roundtable on the implications of Brexit for the United Kingdom’s sanctions policy, featuring Qudsi Rasheed, sanctions envoy for the UK government. He explained in detail the UK’s new institutional set-up for sanctions policy. Mr. Rasheed also discussed UK-US-EU cooperation on […]

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2019

Theresa May resigns over Brexit chaos

By David A. Wemer

Having taken office less than one month after the UK voted to leave the EU, May will now leave almost three years later with that very exit still up in the air.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2019

A political death warrant for Theresa May – and Brexit?

By John M. Roberts

After weeks of stagnation and accusations that Britain had a zombie government and parliament, suddenly everything is moving again at almost lightning speed. 

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2019

Brussels agreed to Brexit extension to avoid no deal, EU official says

By David A. Wemer

EU official signals that the EU would be open to a compromise that passed the Withdrawal Agreement but changed the political declaration.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 11, 2019

A little knowledge on Brexit

By John M. Roberts

We still do not know how, or when, or even whether, Britain will make its exit from the EU.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2019

The spark that launched Brexit has returned and could torpedo compromise

By Barbara C. Matthews

Serious efforts by EU regulators to extend their standards extraterritorially into London could easily provide pro-Brexit policy makers in London one more reason to resist compromise.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 4, 2019

Brexit breaks Britain’s parties

By John M. Roberts

Curiously, while it is not possible to calculate just what will be the immediate outcome of the current Brexit imbroglio, it is already possible to gauge some of the longer-term consequences.

European Union United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2019

Theresa May’s poisoned chalice

By John M. Roberts

The prime minister’s appeal to Jeremy Corbyn constituted a last-ditch attempt to try to wrest at least a degree of control of the Brexit process back into her own hands.

United Kingdom

Bremain vs. Brexit

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 18, 2015

Considering Brexit

By Nico Catano

On November 10th, Downing Street released David Cameron’s long awaited letter to European Council President Donald Tusk on Great Britain’s envisioned reforms to the European Union (EU). With a portion of the ruling Conservative party desiring an EU exit, as well as the rising prominence of the UK Independence Party, unity should not be taken for granted.

Economy & Business European Union

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 10, 2015

David Cameron Wants EU to Reform. Will He Get His Way?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

British Prime Minister unlikely to get his way on curbing welfare payments to EU migrants, says Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell British Prime Minister David Cameron will likely get some of his demands for reform of the European Union, but on at least one — curbing welfare payments for EU citizens migrating to the United Kingdom […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

May 13, 2015

Dungan on the Implications of the UK Election

By Nicholas Dungan

The Daily Caller quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Dungan what the UK election results mean for Scotland and the European Union:

United Kingdom

Bremain vs Brexit

May 8, 2015

Dungan on Cameron’s Stunning Electoral Victory

By Nicholas Dungan

CNN quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Dungan on what British Prime Minister David Cameron’s stunning electoral victory last week means for the United Kingdom moving forward:

United Kingdom

Bremain vs Brexit

May 7, 2015

Dungan on Britain’s Military Presence

By Nicholas Dungan

USA Today quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Dungan on Britain’s military presence in advance of the most unpredictable national election in decades:

United Kingdom