Category: Blogs

Trump Again Raises NATO Defense Spending in Speech on Domestic Agenda

By Donald Trump, White House/Google Cache Version

Our government rushed to join international agreements where the United States pays the costs and bears the burdens, while other countries get the benefit and pay nothing

Does RT Really Believe in Free Speech? Prove It

By Jeffrey Gedmin

RT aims to discredit the United States in a straightforward way. The Kremlin-funded television network—established in 2005, operating in English, Arabic, and Spanish—doesn’t report on America and the West warts and all, but rather focuses single-mindedly on warts alone. That’s not all. Sins of omission, falsehoods, and conspiracy theories—like Ukraine shooting down the Malaysian Airlines […]

NATO Considers New Counterterrorism Post Following Trump Demands

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is considering appointing a senior official to oversee counterterrorism efforts

Nordic Governments Deepen Defense Collaboration

By Gerard O’Dwyer, Defense News

The Nordic countries have further deepened cross-border collaboration with the launch of the Nordic Defence Materiel Agreement.

Algeria’s Elections in an Atmosphere of Uncertainty

By Sabina Henneberg

Algeria is facing change in several interrelated areas. Upcoming parliamentary elections on May 5 will therefore take place in an atmosphere of rising uncertainty. Coupled with the fact that those in power realize that change is needed, and have taken steps to diversify the economy and adopt constitutional amendments in recent years, means the elections […]

Why Bahrain Prefers Trump over Obama

By Giorgio Cafiero and Jesse Schatz

Since the start of the unrest in Bahrain in 2011, officials in Washington and London have had mainly two attitudes toward the island sheikdom. On one hand, they believe Bahrain’s Western backers must urge the ruling Al Khalifa family to enact reforms in response to concerns such as the marginalization of Shi’ites and violation of […]

What Can Ukraine Learn from the Balkans?

By Gunther Fehlinger

Ukraine wants to join the European Union, but the level of support among many EU member states is low or nonexistent. Many are afraid of Russia’s reaction and lack a clear understanding of both the climate in post-Euromaidan Ukraine and the country’s strong commitment to Western integration. The situation is challenging in all aspects. War […]

Iran’s Diplomatic Corps: Between a Rock and the Quds Force

By Ali Alfoneh

As Iran’s new ambassador to Damascus, Javad Torkabadi, submitted his credentials to Walid al-Moalem, Syria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Iranian president Hassan Rouhani scored a small, but notable, and much needed tactical victory over the extraterritorial operations Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC QF).

TRADE in ACTION – April 28, 2017

By Global Business & Economics Program

This week in TradeinAction: The IMF and World Bank Spring meetings came to a close on Sunday, highlighting the importance of inclusive growth and trade. All the while, French voters went to the polls in the first round of the presidential election. The top two candidates, independent Emmanuel Macron and far-right Marine Le Pen, go into a runoff […]

Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit Affirms Transatlantic Engagement

Speakers at the Atlantic Council’s Istanbul Summit on April 27 emphasized the importance of strengthening transatlantic bonds to the Middle East with the goal of jointly addressing challenges and harnessing opportunities. “We all need each other, and we are strong when we can work together, and pull in the same direction, and address the many […]