New Atlanticist

Achieving a Strategic Transatlantic Wiedervereinigung

By Alton V. Buland

Instability arcs along Europe’s periphery from the Middle East and North Africa up the Black Sea and into the Arctic, while transnational security challenges (climate change, cyber threats, etc.) challenge our future. At the same time, the bonds of Cold War transatlantic solidarity have weakened as new generations arise and isolationist/nativist movements reemerge on both […]

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Libya?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Analysts discuss the humanitarian, security, and political crises emanating from a country in chaos  The chaos in Libya that has prevailed since the ouster of Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 has placed both a humanitarian as well as a security crisis on Europe’s doorstep. Libya today has two governments—one in Tripoli and the other in Tobruk. […]

US Drug Habit Deadly for Latin America

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Head of US Southern Command says terrorists could one day use criminal networks A demand in the United States for drugs—specifically cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamines—is devastating communities across Latin America, says Marine Corps Gen John F. Kelly, Commander of US Southern Command. Illegal trafficking networks pose not just a security threat, they also have corrosive […]

Will Greece Go Bankrupt this Summer?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Montanino faults creditors for not adopting a forward-looking approach in negotiations with Athens The Greek government and its creditors—the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund—have made mistakes over the course of three months of negotiations aimed at securing a commitment from Greece to undertake economic reforms before the […]

What did Obama’s Summit with Gulf Partners Achieve?

Officials of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), wrapping up a May 14 summit at Camp David, endorsed US President Barack Obama’s proposed nuclear deal with Iran saying a “comprehensive, verifiable” accord is in their security interests. But in reality, the much-publicized gathering turned out to be “much ado about very little”—and Gulf states are […]

As Greek Crisis Looms, Sovereign Debt Restructuring Takes Center Stage

As countries such as Argentina, Greece, and Ukraine struggle to pay down their debt, it is “clear that sovereign debt issues are important today, but they’ll be even more important tomorrow,” says the Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino. “The question on the minds of many is whether we will see another Greek default and what [will […]

A Coup in Burundi?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Pham sees risk of another civil war as fired General claims to be in control While details of a reported coup against Burundi’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza, by his former intelligence chief are fuzzy, it is clear that the Central African nation with a long history of civil war and political unrest risks descending […]

A United Kingdom Outside the EU is Just Not as Special to the United States

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Burwell questions Prime Minister Cameron’s push for a referendum on Britain’s EU membership British Prime Minister David Cameron arrived in Riga, Latvia, May 22 determined to push for reform of the European Union and to renegotiate the United Kingdom’s membership. Emboldened by his recent election victory, Cameron said he wants to give the […]

Can Fracking Survive?

Extraction process seen causing oil prices to slide On May 11, the same day panelists converged at the Atlantic Council to debate the future of hydraulic fracking technology, news broke of a pessimistic report by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) predicting that oil prices would remain well below $100 per barrel for […]

GCC No-Shows ‘Another Unfortunate Milestone’ in US-Gulf Ties

Leaders wanted more than ‘just a statement and more weapons sales’ out of Camp David summit, says Atlantic Council’s Pavel The decision by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and three other Arab leaders to skip a May 14 summit with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) leaders at Camp David reflects deep unhappiness among Washington’s Gulf partners over […]