New Atlanticist

Iraqi Operation Will Deepen Rift Among Kurds

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Iraqi government forces on October 16 seized vital oil fields and the city of Kirkuk from Kurdish forces. The military action, which pits two US allies against each other, followed a September 25 referendum in which the Kurds voted for an independent state. The Iraqi government had declared the vote unconstitutional. Kirkuk, which is not […]

In Somalia, Bombings Highlight Limits of US Military Assistance

The deadly bombings in Mogadishu, attributed to, yet not claimed by al-Shabaab, highlight the need for a new strategy from both US forces and the Somali government to counter violent extremism as militant groups adapt to increased US military action, according to an Atlantic Council analyst. “The weekend’s attacks highlight the limits of the military […]

Somalis are the Victims of US State-Building Efforts

By Bronwyn Bruton

This weekend’s truck bombing in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, was the worst assault on civilians in that country’s long, sad history. But such attacks are a weekly event in Somalia and have been for the past decade. This attack was dramatically worse than most, but surely it won’t be the last. And it highlights a […]

Trump and the Art of the [Iran Nuclear] Deal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

As expected, US President Donald J. Trump on October 13 announced that he will not certify Iran’s compliance with the terms of a multilateral nuclear deal, accusing the Islamic Republic of “not living up to the spirit” of the agreement. While Trump did not take the United States out of the deal, he asserted the […]

NAFTA Negotiations: What is at Stake?

By Caleb Darger

If representatives from the United States, Canada, and Mexico are unable to come to an agreement in the fourth round of negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the consequences could be dire for millions of US citizens whose livelihoods depend on the success of the trade deal, according to Atlantic Council experts. […]

Voting Machines: A National Security Vulnerability?

The political instability that has resulted from Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections has put the focus on voting machines as a national security vulnerability, Douglas Lute, a former US permanent representative to NATO, said at the Atlantic Council on October 10. “I don’t think I’ve seen a more severe threat to American […]

Central and Eastern Europe’s Pushback Against Sanctions on Russia

By Dimitar Bechev

While the Kremlin’s hopes for a partial relaxation of US sanctions on Russia have all but evaporated due to increasing tension between Moscow and Washington, Russia can still count on friends and partners in Eastern Europe to promote sanctions relief. For example, in a speech to the Council of Europe on October 10, Czech President […]

In Catalonia, a ‘Coup d’État Masquerading as a Referendum’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Catalonia’s illegal independence referendum has thrown Spain into turmoil. In light of the escalating tensions, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is now toying with the idea of invoking the never-before-used Article 155 of the Spanish constitution that would suspend Catalonia’s regional autonomy. With a view to taking such action, Rajoy on October 11 asked the […]

What are the Implications of Decertification of the Iran Nuclear Deal?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The expectation that US President Donald J. Trump will decertify the nuclear deal with Iran this week raises the question: what would be the implications of decertification? Trump faces an October 15 deadline to certify to the US Congress that Iran is complying with the terms of the nuclear agreement that the Islamic Republic struck […]

Streamlining Infrastructure Permitting: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

By Keith J. Benes

While US President Donald J. Trump’s actions on infrastructure permitting, including executive orders to expedite approvals of controversial projects like the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, grabbed headlines, they are potentially counterproductive. Rushing environmental review and infrastructure approval processes could ultimately undermine Trump’s efforts by leaving those projects vulnerable to court challenges as a […]