New Atlanticist

A Stubborn Yahya Jammeh Drives The Gambia Toward a Crisis

By Kelsey Lilley

Celebrations in the Gambia after opposition candidate Adama Barrow ousted longtime President Yahya Jammeh in the momentous December presidential elections have been short-lived. The optimism spurred on by Jammeh’s concession to Barrow a day after election results were announced was soon tempered by his course reversal: on December 9, the eccentric president of twenty-two years […]

Latvia Heads Into 2017 Relying On Its Own Mettle—And NATO Metal

By Teri Schultz

‘Channeling Brussels’ with Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs While the entire world carefully watches how 2017 unfolds, especially developments between the White House and the Kremlin, the Baltics are among those with the most finely-tuned binoculars.  Worst-case scenarios may be simply hypotheses for debate in other countries, but in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania they are […]

In the DRC, Joseph Kabila Kicks the Can Down the Road

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Joseph Kabila, the president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is unlikely to abide by the terms of an agreement that aims to end his fifteen-year rule and ensure the DRC’s first-ever democratic transition of power, said J. Peter Pham, director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center. “Miracles can happen and I guess, […]

2016: The Year in Review

Here’s a look at some of our top content from 2016.

Brazil Braces for Another Tumultuous Year

By Ricardo Sennes

Throughout 2016, Brazilians and foreigners alike kept stating—and hoping—that 2017 would bring more stability, allowing Brazil to reform and grow its economy. But those of us who thought we were heading into calmer waters will have to think again. The new year is gearing up to be another tumultuous one for Brazil, in spite of […]

US-Romania Ties in Need of an Upgrade

By Radu Magdin

There are several reasons why Donald Trump’s administration must upgrade the relationship with Romania—an important US partner in Eastern Europe. Romania is an enduring friend and ally—from a cultural, security, and military standpoint—and offers a wealth of economic opportunities. It aspires to be more present on Washington’s strategic radar, and particularly on the agenda of […]

Joseph Kabila Has Passed His Expiration Date

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States must work to avoid another ‘world war’ in Africa, says the Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham The United States must ratchet up pressure on Congolese President Joseph Kabila in an attempt to convince him to leave office; a failure to do so would risk dragging the country and its neighbors into a […]

A Call for the Transatlantic Community to Stand Up to Russia

Deborah Lee James, secretary of the US Air Force, said the transatlantic community is facing significant challenges In light of numerous instances of Russian aggression around the world, the transatlantic security community must stand together in a coordinated show of force so as to deter Russian revanchism, Deborah Lee James, secretary of the US Air […]

Turkey-Russia Relationship Will Survive Russian Ambassador’s Assassination

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey on December 19, while a tragic incident, is unlikely to have a significant impact on the diplomatic relationship between Moscow and Ankara that has been forged over priorities in Syria, according to two Atlantic Council analysts. “This incident, in theory, could be a pretext for the Russians […]