Category: Blogs

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UkraineAlert

Mar 12, 2018

Ukraine’s Six Teams of Reformers to Watch

By Aivaras Abromavičius

Ukraine has changed in recent years. But, as is often the case, it’s two steps forward, one step back. At numerous meetings with international partners and journalists, I’m often asked where the latest positive dynamic in government reforms is and which groups of reformers are likely to produce positive results. Having worked in the government […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Mar 12, 2018

Poroshenko’s Last Chance

By Diane Francis

An Anti-Corruption Court is the capstone that will complete an infrastructure to eliminate Ukraine’s systemic corruption and to attract massive investments.President Petro Poroshenko’s current proposal misses the mark, and fails to meet the criteria stipulated by the International Monetary Fund and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission. Under Poroshenko’s bill, international experts will play only […]

Ukraine

EnergySource

Mar 12, 2018

Global Energy Center working paper highlights risks of Nord Stream 2

By Global Energy Center

In a new working paper, Global Energy Center Senior Fellow Alan Riley highlights the risks that could stem from the construction of the contentious proposed Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which would bring gas from Russia to Germany. In the working paper, Dr. Riley emphasizes that the proposed pipeline would have negative implications for European […]

Geopolitics & Energy Security Oil and Gas

New Atlanticist

Mar 10, 2018

The Trump Administration’s Sanctions Policy: Competence and Questions

By Daniel Fried

In a speech March 9 at the Atlantic Council, US Department of Treasury Undersecretary Sigal Mandelker, the Trump administration’s top sanctions official, confirmed that new Russia sanctions are being prepared, and suggested that they would target members of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s power structure. This was just one of the items covered in a half-day […]

Iran Korea

SyriaSource

Mar 9, 2018

“Sawa’id Al-Khair” Interferes with Humanitarian Work in Idlib

By Hasan Arfeh

The rebel group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) regularly intervenes in Syrians’ public affairs in Idlib and imposes its authority on the education centers. Additionally, they also disrupt hospitals and other humanitarian facilities through the “Sawa’id al-Khair” or “Goodwill Corps,” affiliated with the morality police, that patrol public areas in HTS-held territory, known as the Hisba.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2018

A Trail of Broken Ceasefires in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Though ostensibly a tool to pause fighting between regime and rebel forces in Syria, the latest ceasefire attempt on February 26 collapsed in less than two hours. This was in fact a Russian-supported “humanitarian pause,” intended to last five hours and allow aid to reach the besieged inhabitants of the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus. […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2018

Trump and North Korea: From ‘Fire and Fury’ to Diplomacy

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Last summer, US President Donald J. Trump threatened to unleash “fire and fury” on North Korea if it endangered the United States. A few months later, he derided North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as “Little Rocket Man” and said US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was wasting his time attempting to negotiate with the regime […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2018

#MeToo Emboldens Women in Brussels

By Teri Schultz

While #MeToo was born in the United States, it quickly sparked a sister movement in Europe, #MeTooEU. Brussels was shocked by the outpouring of stories of abuse and aggression against women—predominantly emanating out of the European Parliament—and the apathy with which their complaints had been handled through official channels. On this International Women’s Day, there […]

European Union International Organizations

MENASource

Mar 8, 2018

The ongoing Israel-Iran proxy war in Syria

By Mona Alami

The next Israeli confrontation with its neighbors will be markedly different from its previous encounters. Recent military escalation in Syria that resulted in the downing of an Israeli F16 in February, points to new trends that could shape future conflict between Israel and Iran. On February 10, an Iranian drone penetrated Israeli airspace from Syria. […]

Iran Israel

Rebuilding Syria

Mar 8, 2018

The Danger of US Assistance to the UN, Rewarding Assad

By Emily Burchfield

In his recent testimony to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, former United States Ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, called on Congress and the US administration to consider cutting assistance to United Nations humanitarian aid programs in Syria. He followed up with an op-ed in The Hill explaining his controversial stance: for years the Assad government […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy
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