New Atlanticist

Italy Seeks a US-European Front to Face Common Challenges

‘Transatlantic bond remains as important as ever,’ said Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano Unprecedented migration, instability in the Middle East, and the growing threat of terrorism necessitate a joint US-European approach to common security challenges that stem from the Mediterranean region, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano said at the Atlantic Council on March 21. “In […]

Despite Sen. Rand Paul, Montenegro’s Foreign Minister is Confident of NATO Membership

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Montenegro’s Foreign Minister Srdjan Darmanovic is confident that, despite a procedural setback, the US Senate will ratify a protocol that will allow his nation to become the twenty-ninth member of NATO. This, he said, should happen before the Alliance’s summit in Brussels in May. NATO foreign ministers signed the Accession Protocol with Montenegro in May […]

Russia’s Support for the Taliban Leaves Kabul Feeling Uneasy

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Afghan foreign minister sees threat to peace process Russia’s support for the Taliban—a terrorist group with which the United States has been at war for more than fifteen years and that is dedicated to overthrowing Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s government—is causing considerable unease in Afghanistan where officials worry it will undermine efforts to make peace […]

A Message to Europe: Let’s Stick Together

By Stanley Sloan

Dear European friends of America, In these challenging times, I am writing to ask that you not abandon your American ally. We have fallen on hard times, and our new leader, Donald Trump, is different from any other in our history. I know that some have compared Trump to one of his predecessors—Andrew Jackson. But […]

Trump’s Budget Will Weaken National Security, say Lawmakers

US President Donald J. Trump’s draft budget, which proposes to increase defense spending by slashing funding for the US Department of State and foreign aid, would imperil national security efforts and weaken the US stance on the world stage, according to two US lawmakers—one a Democrat and the other a Republican. “You cannot balance the […]

A ‘Strange Allegation’ About UK Spying

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Trump administration must defuse crisis with its ally, says Sir Peter Westmacott, a former UK ambassador to the United States US President Donald J. Trump’s support for an unsubstantiated claim that his predecessor, Barack Obama, asked Britain’s spy agency to eavesdrop on him is a “strange allegation” that “calls into question very important elements of […]

‘Mexico Has Options’

Energy sector reform will continue with or without the United States, said former Mexican official Though recent political tensions threaten the stability of US-Mexico relations, Mexico’s ongoing energy sector reform will continue without US partnership, if necessary, according to Mexico’s former deputy secretary of energy. “Mexico’s energy reform does not depend on the United States,” […]

A Saudi Royal Visits Trump

By Shehab al-Makahleh

While Saudi Arabia’s King Salman was on the fourth leg of his three-week Asia tour, his son, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS), became the first Saudi royal to visit the White House during the administration of US President Donald J. Trump. With the king wrapping up his state visit in Japan before going […]