Content

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2020

Beyond 5G, Central Europe will be key to countering Chinese technological influence

By Frances Burwell, Jörn Fleck, and Eileen Kannengeiser

In seeking to further roll back China’s influence, the US has targeted Huawei during its CEE visit as the Shenzhen-based telecoms-equipment manufacturer competes for a prominent role in the region’s cellular network infrastructure and 5G expansion.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

MENASource

Aug 14, 2020

Lebanon’s future determined by two powerful explosions just fifteen years apart

By Nicholas Blanford

It remains to be seen whether this latest appalling explosion will serve as a fresh catalyst to change the status quo and whether it will eventually compel the corrupt political elite to loosen their steely grip on the levers of power.

Lebanon Politics & Diplomacy

The future is here

Aug 14, 2020

UK imposes new quarantine on France, restrictions increase from Paris to Auckland

By Atlantic Council

UK vacationers in France scrambled to get home to beat new quarantine measures as cases there rise. Restrictions were extended in cities from the French capital to New Zealand’s biggest city, while Europe lost almost half the jobs created since the last recession in a single quarter.

Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2020

Amid Hong Kong sanctions, Washington takes aim at US-listed Chinese companies

By GeoEconomics Center

On August 6, the Treasury Department’s Working Group on Capital Markets defined operational standards that Chinese firms must uphold to remain listed in New York. It is a reasonable and necessary measure to correct an abnormality—aiming to level the playing field in terms of compliance and to enhance investor protection.

China Economy & Business

IranSource

Aug 14, 2020

Are the US and Iran talking behind the scenes?

By Sina Toossi

If there is an ongoing US-Iran backchannel, it may be similar to the one Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama conducted via Oman late in the term of former hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Iran Middle East

GeoTech Cues

Aug 13, 2020

Living within the truth in the age of coronavirus: America’s security on the line

By Carol Dumaine

Carol Dumaine is a former US Intelligence Community analyst and manager who, in recent years, has been busy teaching, writing, and giving public presentations on themes related to climate change and global security. Currently Dumaine is working on a series of essays called “Living within the Truth in the Age of Coronavirus.” Her most recent […]

National Security Political Reform

GeoTech Cues

Aug 13, 2020

The geopolitics of Russia’s vaccine claim

By Claire Branley, Esther Dyson

President Vladimir Putin announced on August 11 that a coronavirus vaccine manufactured by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Moscow had been granted regulatory approval. The claim however has geopolitical ramifications.

Coronavirus Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Aug 13, 2020

Front line communities and Ukraine’s local elections

By Andreas Umland

Ukraine plans to hold nationwide local elections in October 2020, but areas close to the front lines of the conflict with Russia in the east of the country will not participate. How can these regions be best managed?

Conflict Democratic Transitions

UkraineAlert

Aug 13, 2020

Ukraine must address the legal ambiguity enabling Putin’s not-so-secret war

By Wayne Jordash

Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine is one of the world's worst-kept secrets, but a failure to end the legal ambiguity shrouding Russia's role in the ongoing conflict makes progress towards peace impossible.

Conflict Disinformation

BelarusAlert

Aug 13, 2020

Europe must not abandon the new Belarus to Putin

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Protests in Belarus over a rigged election have grabbed the world's attention this week. However, this geopolitically important democratic awakening has little chance of success without Western support.

Belarus Democratic Transitions