Content

Fast Thinking

Dec 7, 2020

FAST THINKING: The next stage of Venezuela’s power struggle

By Atlantic Council

The Trump administration recognized opposition figure Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s interim president and mobilized nations around the world to do the same. But Nicolás Maduro is still in power—and perhaps even more entrenched after winning control this weekend of the National Assembly in an election boycotted by Guaidó and his allies. What does the election mean for the opposition’s future?

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

GeoTech Cues

Dec 7, 2020

Reimagining a just society pt. 1 | Is a different world possible?

By Carol Dumaine

The GeoTech Center’s mission is to define practicable initiatives to ensure new technologies and advances in data capabilities benefit people, prosperity, and peace in open societies. Its overarching goal is a “world comprised of just societies.” The GeoTech’s mandate is an ambitious one and, while focused on applying new technologies to solutions to global problems, is anchored in an explicit assumption that its efforts will promote just societies.

Civil Society Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2020

US investors face half-baked Trump restrictions on Chinese securities

By Jeremy Mark

As the Trump administration tries to accelerate economic decoupling from China before leaving office, it has turned its attention to international finance by targeting investments in Chinese companies designated as threats to US national security. In that process, it is injecting uncertainty into markets by forcing investors to adjust to rapidly evolving restrictions.

China Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

Event Recap

Dec 7, 2020

Event recap | At the crossroads of emerging technologies and security during the pandemic

By Henry Westerman

On Thursday, December 3, the Embassy of Finland and the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center convened a partially public, partially private roundtable to discuss the impact technology on contemporary society, politics, and transatlantic relations. The roundtable sought to consider specific policy steps that could build trust in governments, corporations, and technologies alike, both in the United States and Europe, so as to overcome the numerous technological challenges of the present and issues poised for the future.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2020

Remittances show promise in the face of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic

By Gabriella Cova

With a projected 9 percent contraction in regional gross domestic product (GDP) for this year, experts fear that the heightened economic uncertainty and lower foreign demand brought on by the health crisis might signify yet another lost decade for Latin America. There is one factor, however, that paints a particularly promising picture for the outlook of the region: remittances.

Coronavirus Latin America

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2020

Belarusian opposition leader’s message to the West: ‘Stay with us and we will win’

By David A. Wemer

Explicit support from Western governments for the Belarusian people and stronger pressure on Lukashenka and his allies will help oust the regime and allow for new elections, Tsikhanouskaya said. “Stay with us and we will win.”

Belarus Civil Society

UkraineAlert

Dec 7, 2020

Ukraine’s community spirit on display as businesses rally to counter COVID crisis

By Andy Hunder

Ukraine's business community has demonstrated an admirable sense of corporate social responsibility during this year's COVID crisis, says American Chamber of Commerce President Andy Hunder

Coronavirus Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Dec 7, 2020

We will not let the old guard drag Ukraine backwards

By Dmytro Kuleba

The old guard wants to drag Ukraine back to the times when they could siphon public money off with impunity and play Russian-style politics. We will not let them succeed, says Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.

Corruption Democratic Transitions

Fast Thinking

Dec 4, 2020

Can Biden bring Republicans on board with his climate plans?

By Randolph Bell

President-elect Biden’s big plans to address the climate crisis could run up against the reality of a Republican-controlled Senate. But there’s still hope for action. The Atlantic Council’s Kathy Baughman McLeod and Randy Bell see enough room for compromise to get things rolling. What kind of climate moves could bring Republican senators on board? What’s […]

Fast Thinking

Dec 4, 2020

Is it time for a US-EU alliance on tech?

By David Bray and Julian Mueller-Kaler

The EU is getting ready to propose a tech alliance with the United States. The outreach to the incoming Biden administration comes after a decade of US-EU tensions on issues like data privacy and security. Can the two sides work together? What would it mean for China? And should a new tech alliance be a […]