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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

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

How the World Is Reacting to Trump’s Iran Decision

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump on May 8 withdrew the United States from the multilateral nuclear agreement with Iran. The deal—formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)— was struck in 2015 by the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Germany, and Iran. Here’s a look at reactions from around the […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

Trump Quits Iran Nuclear Deal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump on May 8 pulled the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal saying the agreement did not satisfactorily address the Islamic Republic’s ability to build a nuclear bomb or limit its “malign activity.” He also signed a memorandum to reimpose sanctions on Iran. Trump’s decision will likely strain Washington’s […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

Lebanese Elections: This is Not a Political Earthquake

By Nabeel Khoury

In 1989, back in the day when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia mediated regional conflicts, the fifteen-year Lebanese civil war ended with the Taif Accord, a reference to the Saudi town where the accord was signed. That agreement changed the Christian/Muslim representation in parliament from a 6:5 ratio in favor of Christians to an equal […]

Middle East

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

Here’s What Would Happen if Trump Does Not Renew Sanctions Waivers for Iran

By David Mortlock

Very little is likely to actually happen immediately on May 8 if US President Donald J. Trump does not renew sanctions waivers for Iran. Indeed, there is only one waiver scheduled for renewal by a May 12 deadline. That provision is Section 1245 of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2018

A Brief History of Sanctions on Iran

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump is expected to announce his decision on May 8 on whether to continue to waive sanctions on Iran or pull the United States out of a multilateral nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic. Here’s a quick look at the history of sanctions on Iran.

Iran