New Atlanticist

Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit Affirms Transatlantic Engagement

Speakers at the Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit on April 27 emphasized the importance of strengthening transatlantic bonds to the Middle East with the goal of jointly addressing challenges and harnessing opportunities. “We all need each other, and we are strong when we can work together, and pull in the same direction, and address the many […]

Erdoğan Asks US to End Support for Kurdish Militias, Hand Over Cleric

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, speaking at the Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit on April 28, urged the United States to end its support for Kurdish rebels in Syria and to extradite a cleric Turkey says orchestrated a failed coup attempt in July of 2016; he also accused some European countries of harboring terrorists.  Erdoğan’s remarks […]

Ukrainian Officials Tout Banking Sector Reforms

By Jack Gloss

When considering the state of Ukraine’s banking reforms, it is important to consider not only what remains to be done, but how much the country has achieved, according to an economic adviser to the Ukrainian government. “The fact that Ukraine is even alive, and surviving, and growing today, is quite amazing given where it was […]

A Decade After “Web War 1,” Former Estonian President Blasts EU Cyber Inertia

By Teri Schultz

Even as the pervasive and destructive capacity of cyberattacks becomes ever more evident with the alleged Russian meddling in European and American politics, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former president of Estonia, marvels at the European Union’s under-performance in dealing with the threat—and he’s pointed in his criticism.  “I think the [European] Commission, in particular the […]

Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Road Ahead for Macron is Hard

By Jeff Lightfoot

Observers of France’s elections can breathe a sigh of relief. The first round on April 23 resulted in centrist, liberal Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche! movement taking first place. He will face far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, whose anti-EU, protectionist platform terrifies markets, in the runoff on May 7. The mere avoidance […]

‘Political Will’ Needed to End War in Syria

White Helmets seek safe zones to protect civilians As US sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime have failed to end the war in Syria, the international community must exercise the political will to do so—and, in the meantime, establish safe zones that would put civilians out of harm’s way, according to two members of […]

AIIB: A Platform for US-China Cooperation

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s president sees an opportunity The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) should be a platform for cooperation, not a point of conflict between the United States and China, the bank’s president, Jin Liqun, said at the Atlantic Council in Washington on April 24. Former US President Barack Obama’s administration was reluctant to […]

Russia and the UAE: Friends with Benefits

By Theodore Karasik and Giorgio Cafiero

Russia’s deepening engagement in the Middle East is a positive development from the United Arab Emirates’ perspective. The Emiratis, with their unique relationship with the Kremlin, are trying to resolve regional security challenges that threaten their interests. More importantly, the Emiratis’ relationship with the Kremlin could help the UAE become an important interlocutor in efforts […]

Making the Case for Multilateralism

European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer cites the importance of explaining the values of international cooperation World leaders must reaffirm the importance of a cooperative international system and the tangible benefits to all stakeholders, Werner Hoyer, president of the European Investment Bank (EIB), said at the Atlantic Council on April 21. While the surge of […]

Macron is Good and Bad News for Brexit Backers

By Reginald Dale

For anxious Britons seeking a good deal in their forthcoming Brexit negotiations with the European Union, the strong probability that Emmanuel Macron will be the next president of France is both good and bad news. The good news is that a Macron victory is the outcome most likely to ensure the EU remains a relatively […]