New Atlanticist

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 […]

What Would a Taiwan Strait Crisis Mean for the UAE?

By Theodore Karasik and Giorgio Cafiero

Donald Trump’s decision to be the first US president/president-elect to speak with a Taiwanese leader since 1979 has unleashed anger in mainland China. Condemning Trump’s conversation with President Tsai Ing-wen, China’s Foreign Ministry declared that if Washington fails to respect Beijing’s interests in Taiwan, the “healthy development of China-US relations and bilateral cooperation in important […]

Russia’s Old Tricks Against New Targets

By Anni Piiparinen and Geysha Gonzalez

The report leaked from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on December 9 confirmed concerns raised during the election campaign: Russia interfered in the US presidential election, with the intent of bolstering President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign. While Washington continues to debate the deeper implications of the cybersecurity breaches and leaks that marred this election season, intelligence […]

Transatlantic Security in a Trump Era

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Spanish foreign minister discusses the rise of populism, dealing with Vladimir Putin, and measuring defense expenditure The year 2016 has been a terrific one for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The rising tide of populism across Europe has brought to the forefront far-right populist leaders, in France and Germany, for example, who espouse pro-Russia rhetoric. The […]