New Atlanticist

Sparking entrepreneurship in the Balkans

Young entrepreneurs “can fix the Balkans,” said Mark Boris Andrijanic, director of public policy for Central and Eastern Europe at Uber, “but only if we are allowed to do so.”

Here’s Why US Commitment to the Western Balkans Matters

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and the European Union (EU) must deepen their engagement with the Western Balkans, a region where Russia, Turkey, and wealthy Arab Gulf states have extended their influence and that is considered integral to realizing the idea of a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace, speakers and panelists said at the […]

Could North Korea Hit the United States with a Missile? Perhaps. Or, Maybe Not?

While it does not confirm any specifics regarding Pyongyang’s nuclear capabilities, North Korea’s latest test of an inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM) indicates it may be able to strike the continental United States. According to the Pentagon’s initial assessment, the missile travelled approximately 1,000 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. It flew higher and […]

Giving Tuesday: Your Investment in Securing the Global Future

By Carrie Kolasky

Today is Giving Tuesday, the day when, after the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we are supposed to turn our attention to others and give back to our communities and our world.  It is easy to be cynical about Giving Tuesday, to be sure. Every day can be a day for giving. However, […]

Why Does Vladimir Putin Care About Sudan?

By Theodore Karasik and Giorgio Cafiero

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed an interest in deepening ties between their two countries when they met in Sochi, Russia, on November 23.    Besides stating his intention to deepen Sudan’s economic and military ties with Russia, Bashir hailed Russia’s military intervention in Syria and expressed gratitude for the Kremlin’s […]

Debt Default Pushes Venezuela Further into Russian Orbit

By Rachel Ansley

Venezuela’s default on a massive international debt and Russia’s ongoing financial assistance to the South American country that is under both US and European Union (EU) sanctions, will push Caracas further into Moscow’s sphere of influence, according to an Atlantic Council analyst. “The Russians are throwing lifelines to the criminal Venezuelan regime with the intention […]

New Partner, New Jobs: A Closer Look at Chinese FDI in Latin America

By Sebastian Maag Pardo

As Latin America embarks on the path to economic recovery, the region is in dire need of job creation sources, which, given dwindling US engagement with its southern neighbors, might be increasingly reliant on China. Beijing has rapidly increased its investments in the region, with over $10 billion invested per year since 2012. If current […]

Dialogue Seen as Crucial to Defusing North Korea Nuclear Crisis

By Ashish Kumar Sen

As US President Donald J. Trump grapples with the North Korean nuclear crisis, two former US officials have some words of advice: attempt dialogue before pre-emptive military strikes, and broaden the scope of that discussion to include the security needs of the region, including North Korea’s. Ernest Moniz, who served as energy secretary in Barack […]

Will North Korea Lash Out Over State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation?

By Rachel Ansley

The decision by US President Donald J. Trump’s administration to designate North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism, while of questionable efficacy, marks a justified increase of pressure from Washington on Pyongyang, according to Atlantic Council analysts. In the latest move in an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the United States and North Korea over the […]

Mugabe’s Exit Opens the Door to Hope in Zimbabwe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Robert Mugabe’s decision to resign in the face of pressure from the military, his party, and the Zimbabwean people paves the way for a new chapter in Zimbabwe’s history, said the Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham. Mugabe, a liberation struggle hero who led Zimbabwe since 1980, saw his star eventually tarnished by corruption, cronyism, and […]