Category: Blogs

The Endless Battle in Taiz

By Maysaa Shuja al Deen

Taiz is the site of the longest-running battle ground in the Yemen war, which began when Houthi forces took over the city on March 25, 2015. Initially, the Houthis were confronted by peaceful demonstrations which they repressed heavily, killing six demonstrators in the process. The situation rapidly developed into armed conflict when the war erupted […]

A Decade After “Web War 1,” Former Estonian President Blasts EU Cyber Inertia

By Teri Schultz

Even as the pervasive and destructive capacity of cyberattacks becomes ever more evident with the alleged Russian meddling in European and American politics, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, a former president of Estonia, marvels at the European Union’s under-performance in dealing with the threat—and he’s pointed in his criticism.  “I think the [European] Commission, in particular the […]

Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Road Ahead for Macron is Hard

By Jeff Lightfoot

Observers of France’s elections can breathe a sigh of relief. The first round on April 23 resulted in centrist, liberal Emmanuel Macron of the En Marche! movement taking first place. He will face far-right National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, whose anti-EU, protectionist platform terrifies markets, in the runoff on May 7. The mere avoidance […]

Responding to Russia’s ‘Hybrid’ Threat

By Franklin D. Kramer and Lauren M. Speranza, U.S. News and World Report

Since its takeover of Crimea in 2014, Russia has become increasingly emboldened

Shia Pakistani Fighters in Syria

By Ali Alfoneh

Among Tehran’s Shia proxies participating in the Syrian civil war in defense of the Assad regime, the Pakistani Zeinabiyoun Brigade remains the most understudied. This may in part be due to the militia’s small size and limited contribution to the war, and because of the militia’s attempt to remain invisible to the prying eyes of […]

How Ukraine Can Win Back Crimea

By Valentyn Nalyvaichenko

The Crimean Tatars are finally receiving the attention they deserve, and that Ukraine must give, if it is to regain Crimea and again be a unified country. On April 19, 2017, the International Court of Justice at The Hague issued a provisional ruling calling for an end to racial discrimination against Crimean Tatars, as well […]

Ending the War on Civilians: A Discussion with Syria’s White Helmets

By SyriaSource

On April 24, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East was honored to host members of the Syrian Civil Defense, informally known as the White Helmets, for a discussion covering the war on civilians, the potential for safe zones, and a view from the ground of the conflict in Syria. Senior Fellow […]

‘Political Will’ Needed to End War in Syria

White Helmets seek safe zones to protect civilians As US sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime have failed to end the war in Syria, the international community must exercise the political will to do so—and, in the meantime, establish safe zones that would put civilians out of harm’s way, according to two members of […]

AIIB: A Platform for US-China Cooperation

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s president sees an opportunity The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) should be a platform for cooperation, not a point of conflict between the United States and China, the bank’s president, Jin Liqun, said at the Atlantic Council in Washington on April 24. Former US President Barack Obama’s administration was reluctant to […]

NATO’s Real Problem Isn’t Defense Spending

By Stephen Blank

When US President Donald Trump attends the NATO summit in Brussels on May 25, he should press the Alliance to confront Moscow’s conventional military superiority and nuclear blackmail tactics, rather than endlessly needle the Europeans about defense spending. NATO undoubtedly needs additional funding sources, but the unwillingness of European countries to meet their 2 percent […]