Category: Blogs

‘Channeling Brussels’ with Sandy Vershbow

By Teri Schultz

Former NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow on the challenge posed by Russia When someone with the long-range perspective of Alexander “Sandy” Vershbow says relations with Russia are the worst he’s seen in his entire career, everyone should take notice. In this week’s “Channeling Brussels,” Vershbow calls 2014, with Russia’s takeover of Ukraine’s Crimea […]

Don’t Ignore Africa

By Rachel Ansley

Though Africa did not feature prominently in the US presidential campaign, the continent must be a key foreign policy consideration for the incoming administration not only due to its strategic, economic, security, and geopolitical significance, but also in light of competition from other aspiring partners, the former commander of the US Africa Command said at […]

Trump is Making Asia Anxious

Exemplified by his extraordinary phone conversation with the leader of Taiwan and his tweets criticizing China, US President-elect Donald Trump’s undefined stance on Asia has created uncertainty and anxiety throughout the region. “The United States is a very important strategic and economic partner,” consequently, countries throughout the region are “anxious to find out what the […]

Beware of the Russian Bear in the Balkans

By Harriet Salem

On October 16, just hours before Montenegrins were due to head to the polls, the government made an alarming announcement. It claimed security services had foiled a Russian nationalist attempt to seize control of the parliament and assassinate Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic (who has since resigned). The Kremlin undoubtedly has an axe to grind with […]

Understanding the Dangers of Egypt’s NGO Law

By Khaled Dawoud

Mohamed Zarie, the director of Egypt’s program at the Cairo Institute for Human Rights, doesn’t mince words when talking about Egypt’s new NGO law. He describes it as a death blow and a declaration of war. The law, which was approved in a record two weeks by the House of Representatives, imposes severe restrictions and […]

Sanctions on Russia Need More Teeth

By Sergey Aleksashenko

It has been more than two years since the European Union and the United States imposed economic sanctions on Russia for its aggression in Ukraine. How effective have the sanctions been? According to US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland in 2016, sanctions were meant to “press Moscow to bring an end to the violence […]

John Kerry: US ‘Commitment to NATO and to Article 5 Transcends Politics’

By John Kerry, Department of State

SECRETARY KERRY: I make the point today and I made the point to my colleagues that the change of an administration in the United States will not change the unwavering commitment of the United States to these ideals or to our NATO obligations.

Italian Voters Deal Leadership Blow to Europe

By Rachel Ansley

The victory of the “no” vote in the Italian referendum is not simply a rejection of reform, but will result in a significant loss of leadership on the European stage with the resignation of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, according to Andrea Montanino, director of the Global Business and Economics Program at the Atlantic Council. Montanino, […]