New Atlanticist

‘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 […]

Relations with Russia: A Strategy of ‘Constrainment’

By Alexander Vershbow

Three years ago this month, Russia illegally annexed Crimea and laid the groundwork for its ongoing campaign to destabilize Ukraine.  That moment marked the end of a period of more than twenty years when the countries of the West looked to Russia as a partner. Of course, even before 2014, Russia had demonstrated a pattern […]

A Welcome Disruption

By Ragnheiður Elín Árnadóttir

We are entering a new era of clean energy disruption. This transformation will have a global impact, including on energy security, climate change, economic development, that will have repercussions for geopolitics and international relations. More and more governments are realizing the importance of renewable and sustainable energy resources. Hydrocarbons will continue to play a role […]

Addressing Asia’s Security Challenges

By Jack Gloss

When approaching security in the Asia-Pacific region, new trends such as deepening intra-Asian defense cooperation and significant increases in Asian defense spending, now on par with that of North America, must be considered, said an Atlantic Council analyst. “There is a trend of very significant increases in Asian defense spending, as well as concomitant intra-Asian […]

Merkel Puts Europe First

By Ashish Kumar Sen

German chancellor’s visit to Washington puts focus on US-German, US-European relationships, says Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell German Chancellor Angela Merkel faces a tough re-election battle in September and a meeting with US President Donald J. Trump is perhaps not the best way for her to burnish her credentials with the German electorate. The fact that […]

When Political Realities Get in the Way of Transatlantic Growth

Political realities on both sides of the Atlantic have a significant impact on economic opportunity, and policymakers must address this dynamic in order to begin the process of stimulating European economic growth, José Manuel Barroso, a former president of the European Commission and former prime minister of Portugal, said at the Atlantic Council on March […]

Haste Makes Waste: Why President Trump’s Executive Actions May Delay Oil Pipelines and Permits

By David L. Goldwyn and Keith J. Benes

US President Donald J. Trump’s new actions intended to expedite approval of energy and infrastructure projects were hailed by industry groups and decried by environmentalists.   If those actions are implemented in ways that cut regulatory or procedural corners, they likely will slow down infrastructure development by increasing the risk of successful court challenges and trade […]

Deciphering Gazprom’s Pipeline Agenda in Europe

By Martin Vladimirov and Sijbren de Jong

Despite the tentative March 13 agreement between the European Commission and Gazprom on the liberalization of gas markets in Central and Eastern Europe, it is still premature to declare an end to the Russian energy giant’s dominance in the region. In its statement of promises, Gazprom pledges to remove destination clauses in its long-term contracts […]

Emigration Threatens Russia’s Stability

By Rachel Ansley

The rapidly climbing numbers of Russians fleeing the country in search of political freedom and economic opportunity in the West has become the greatest threat to the stability of the Russian Federation, said an Atlantic Council analyst. According to Alina Polyakova, director of research for Europe and Eurasia at the Atlantic Council, “the fact that […]