Category: Blogs

Top News: UN Endorses Peace Process for Syria

The UN Security Council’s (UNSC) unanimous support of a peace process for Syria that is set to begin next month with government-opposition talks and a ceasefire represents its strongest gesture yet in support of a solution to the civil war.

Top News: Esraa al-Taweel Released for Medical Reasons After Seven Months Detention

By EgyptSource

Cairo Criminal Court ordered the release Saturday of Egyptian photographer Esraa al-Taweel after nearly seven months in detention pending trial. Judge Hassan Farid said Taweel was released because of her medical condition and her need for to receive treatment outside prison.

EconSource: Saudi Arabia Plans Major Economic Shakeup Amid Oil Slump

By EconSource

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has privately outlined plans to reshape the economy to withstand low oil prices. The strategy, which includes state spending reforms and privatizations, was presented at a meeting this week with senior officials, businessmen, and economists.

“From Russia with Cash”: Dirty Money Unchecked in London

By Amanda Abrams

The numbers are staggering. Annually, $1 trillion is stolen by corrupt officials from countries around the globe. That money needs to be spent, or laundered, and much of it goes into big anonymous real estate deals in the United Kingdom, which is seeing £1 billion in unrecorded capital inflows per month. The main source of […]

Does Egypt Believe in its Parliament?

By Yussef Auf

After a three and a half year absence, the Egyptian parliament is back in business as the final rounds of election are coming to an end. A revote for thirteen seats is taking place in four constituencies, after which all seats in the parliament will be filled. Since the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) dissolved the […]

Merry Christmas 2015

By Jorge Benitez, Director of NATOSource

Merry Christmas and thank you to everyone that supported NATOSource during 2015. The NATOSource website will not be updated during the holidays, but you will be able to receive news and updates through our Twitter account: @NATOSource.

The Geostrategic Value of Greece and Sweden in the Current Struggle between Russia and NATO

By Albin Aronsson

Greece and Sweden are both in possession of islands that are of critical geostrategic value and this value serves as a major driver behind Russia’s increased attention to the two countries.

Social Media in Egypt: A Catapult for Change

By Omar Halawa

Zeinab Mohamed, an Egyptian blogger who joined twitter in January 2007, never imagined social media websites could come to represent Egypt’s “virtual political spectrum.” Not only has social media become a platform for political expression, it is also a tool for spreading awareness, and at times, for exerting pressure. 

Islamist Militant Groups Cast Deadly Shadow Over Africa in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Boko Haram deadlier than ISIS, says Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series.J. Peter Pham is the Director of the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center.

Ending Syria’s War Will Require All Hands on Deck

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States and Russia will have to cooperate, says former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy Nabil Fahmy served as Egypt’s Foreign Minister from 2013 to 2014. In this interview with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen, Fahmy makes the point that the United States, Russia, the Arab states, Iran and Turkey will all need […]