Content

IranSource

May 21, 2021

‘Elections without Mohsen Rezaei are like kebabs without onions’

By Saeid Jafari

A perpetual candidate, a man who never leaves the scene, an election-addict, and a resilient politician: these are among the kinder ways in which Iranians describe Mohsen Rezaei.

Iran Middle East

MENASource

May 20, 2021

Experts React: What’s next after the Israel-Hamas ceasefire?

By Atlantic Council

After eleven days of cross-border fighting, Hamas and Israel have agreed to a ceasefire. Atlantic Council experts react to the news, assess the significance of the recent surge in violence, and offer their thoughts on how the international community should deal with the conflict moving forward.

Israel Middle East

UkraineAlert

May 20, 2021

Putin’s passport ploy in Ukraine may pave way for Russia’s next annexation

By Peter Dickinson

As Vladimir Putin’s hybrid war against Ukraine grinds into its eighth year, Russian passports are emerging as Moscow’s most effective weapon in its struggle to limit Ukrainian sovereignty.

Conflict Non-Traditional Threats

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2021

Why India’s COVID-19 crisis could spell global economic catastrophe

By Nitya Biyani

India was projected to lead a surge in emerging-market growth this year. How much will its second-wave crisis impact the global economy?

Coronavirus Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2021

MARKUP: Our experts annotate Biden’s new executive order on cybersecurity

By Cyber Statecraft Initiative

To help unpack President Joe Biden's new executive order on cybersecurity, Atlantic Council experts and friends mark up the order with their thoughts on what it means for the government and private sector.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

UkraineAlert

May 20, 2021

Biden softens sanctions on Putin’s pipeline

By Diane Francis

The Biden administration has this week announced a mixed bag of sanctions and waivers concerning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, leaving opponents of Putin’s pet energy project confused and alarmed.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Germany

BelarusAlert

May 19, 2021

Dialog of dictators: How Putin and Lukashenka really talk to each other

By Brian Whitmore

Meetings between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka have become more frequent since the outbreak of anti-regime protests in Belarus last year, but details remain vague.

Belarus Politics & Diplomacy

GeoTech Cues

May 19, 2021

Games with serious consequences: Extremist movements and kayfabe

By Richard J. Cordes

Extremist movements and emergent collectives have found a home in online communities and platforms. In this piece, Nonresident Fellow R.J. Cordes outlines how such groups blur the lines between games and reality and presents a strategy for handling online collectives effectively.

Digital Policy Disinformation

Op-Ed

May 19, 2021

A Green chancellor (yes, a Green chancellor) will keep Germany and Europe safe

By Roderick Kefferpütz

Though they are a movement formed by peaceniks, the German Greens realize that the challenge of our time, besides climate change, is the systemic conflict between democracy and authoritarianism, writes a Green strategist.

Europe & Eurasia Germany

IranSource

May 19, 2021

Iran sanctions relief will continue funding the ongoing war in Syria

By Kenan Rahmani and Cameron Khansarinia

As the Joe Biden administration negotiates a potential return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in Vienna, Tehran’s backing of the Bashar al-Assad regime should not be left off the table.

Iran Middle East