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New Atlanticist

May 11, 2018

George W. Bush Warns Against Isolationism

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former US president makes a pitch for preserving PEPFAR Former US President George W. Bush, accepting the Atlantic Council’s Distinguished International Leadership Award in Washington on May 10, warned of the dangers of isolationism and said it is critical that the United States step up to the responsibilities of global leadership. Bush also made a […]

New Atlanticist

May 10, 2018

In Malaysia, a Win for Democracy

By HuiHui Ooi

Tun Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as Malaysia’s prime minister on May 10 after an astonishing electoral victory that stunned many Malaysians and the world. The ninety-two-year-old is now the world’s oldest leader. Mahathir’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition trounced incumbent prime minister, Najib Razak’s Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in general elections held on May 9. […]

Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

May 10, 2018

Waiting for Europe’s Budgetary Chickens to Roost—or Roast—At NATO

By Brooks Tigner

BRUSSELS — When the other twenty-eight allies gather for NATO’s next summit in Brussels in July, many among them will undoubtedly be waiting nervously for the arrival of Air Force One and the 29th allied leader it will carry to the Belgian capital—US President Donald J. Trump. The reason for their nervousness will be money: […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

The Iran Deal: Withdrawal Symptoms

By Brian O'Toole

US President Donald J. Trump’s May 8 announcement that he would withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal was broadly consistent with what many observers expected from the administration. However, because the sanctions component proved tougher than most predicted, the full scope of economic and political ramifications remains unknown. While the United States gears up for the reimposition […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

The Phony Stage of a Looming Trade War?

By Marie Kasperek

The US government recently sent a large delegation to China in hopes of averting a looming trade war with a major economic competitor. While the intent of the May 2-4 meetings was laudable, it failed to produce any significant outcomes. Negotiators—including US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin, US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, US […]

China

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

Russia’s 2017 Defense Spending Cut Is Not What It Seems

By Brooks Tigner

BRUSSELS — The May 2 announcement by SIPRI, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, that Russia’s defense budget in 2017 fell by 20 percent made many headlines across the West, with predictions of major fallout for Moscow’s military modernization goals, operations, and tactics and its international influence. However, the reality is far from that scenario […]

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

Iranian Hardliners’ ‘I-Told-You-So’ Moment

By Holly Dagres

Three years ago, Iranians celebrated in the streets of Tehran after a deal was struck between their government and the P5+1 countries to curb Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions on the Islamic Republic. Three years later, there were once again celebrations in Iran after US President Donald J. Trump announced that the […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

North Korea Releases Three US Prisoners

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump announced in a Twitter post on May 9 that North Korea has released three American prisoners. Trump said the three men, all US citizens of Korean descent, were freed during US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s visit to Pyongyang on May 9. Trump tweeted on May 9 that Pompeo was […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2018

We Are Now in Uncharted Territory

By Frederick Kempe

President Trump’s decision today to leave the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) was the most significant foreign policy decision yet for this administration. It is no accident that Trump announced it even as he dispatched Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. These two engagements will do much to define […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

The United States Gets Tough With South Sudan

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump’s administration, expressing displeasure with the government in South Sudan, has started a comprehensive review of its aid programs to that country. In a sternly worded statement, the White House said that the leaders of South Sudan had “squandered this partnership [with the United States], pilfered the wealth of South Sudan, […]

East Africa