New Atlanticist

US-Brazil Relations: Time for a Reset?

On June 30, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will visit the United States, nearly two years after she cancelled a planned trip to Washington in the wake of revelations by Edward Snowden that the US National Security Agency was monitoring her phone calls and emails. Peter Schechter, Director of the Atlantic Council’s Adrienne Arsht Latin America […]

Open Russia’s Khodorkovsky Envisions a Russia Without Putin

Someday, predicts Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia—freed from the authoritarian grip of President Vladimir Putin—could be an ally of the United States, an economically strong democracy, and even a responsible member of both NATO and the European Union. And even though that day may be a long way off, Washington shouldn’t waste any time getting ready for […]

Despite Stinging Setback, Controversial Trade Bill Not Dead Yet

Atlantic Council’s Jason Marczak sees chance TPA may still squeak through Congress With the House of Representatives set to hold a do-over vote by June 16 on a worker retraining program – the Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) – whose defeat has stalled US President Barack Obama’s entire free-trade agenda, there’s a glimmer of hope that […]

Poland’s Sikorski Urges Tougher NATO Stance Against Russia

Two days after resigning as the Speaker of Poland’s Parliament following an eavesdropping scandal, veteran Polish politician Radosław Sikorski said his country and the United States must jointly stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s provocations in Ukraine. Speaking June 12 at the Atlantic Council’s Wrocław Global Forum 2015, Sikorski thanked the US government for […]

Hadley: Ukraine Faces ‘Enormous Existential Challenge’

The United States and its European allies must dramatically step up efforts to help the Ukrainian people defend themselves from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his proxies in eastern Ukraine, said Stephen J. Hadley, who served as National Security Adviser under US President George W. Bush. Hadley, speaking June 13 at the Atlantic Council’s Wroclaw […]

Top US General in Europe says NATO Alliance is Strong

By Larry Luxner

Nine months after NATO’s summit in Wales, and with less than a year to go before NATO’s next gathering in Warsaw, the Pentagon’s highest-ranking officer in Europe says the 28-member alliance stands ready to confront any threats it may face. Lt. Gen. Frederick “Ben” Hodges, Commanding General of the US Army Europe, labeled Russia’s recent […]

Don’t Fall for Putin’s Game, Warn European Officials

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Kremlin strategy seen rooted in distracting West with propaganda and splintering alliance Russian President Vladimir Putin has a strategy clearly aimed at dividing the Western alliance arrayed against him and this must not be allowed to succeed, two European officials said June 12. “If we understand that one of the goals of Mr. Putin is […]

With World Focused on Ukraine, Russia Makes Moves on Georgia

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Georgian official draws parallels between Putin’s treaties with breakaway provinces and annexation of Crimea While the world focuses its attention on the Ukraine crisis, Russia has been quietly grabbing territory from another neighbor—Georgia. The Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine is just the latest provocation by Russia in its neighborhood, Georgia’s Foreign Minister, Tamar Beruchashvili, reminded an […]

Polish Leaders Urge Solidarity for Ukraine

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Officials stress they don’t seek confrontation with Russia Top Polish officials June 12 exhorted the transatlantic community to show solidarity with countries bearing the brunt of Russia’s aggression, but stressed that they do not seek a confrontation with Moscow. “The European response to the situation in the east can be driven as much by our […]