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EconoGraphics

Jun 3, 2019

US Cuba policy: EU and Canadian firms to suffer?

By BY OLE MOEHR | GRAPHICS BY SHIQING HUA, FRANCIS AUBEE, AND NICK BROWN

On April 17 2019, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announced an important change in the United States’ policy toward Cuba: Title III of the Cuban Liberty and Democracy Solidarity Act of 1996 (LIBERTAD Act) would no longer be suspended. As a result of this decision, US claimants can now seek compensation for property confiscated by the Castro government. The move has important implications for US and foreign companies doing business in Cuba. This edition of the EconoGraphic explains the history and purpose of the LIBERTAD Act, evaluates the policy’s potential impact on US allies’ economic interests in Cuba, and highlights its implications for the pressure campaign against the Maduro regime in Venezuela.

Cuba Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Jun 3, 2019

The right man for the right time  

By Andy Hunder

“God probably has a great sense of humor,” reckons Borys Gudziak, president of the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv. The US-born archbishop transformed what was designed to be the Soviet communist party’s atheist ideology center in western Ukraine into a thriving catholic university. The irony of this transformation is not lost on him. Only […]

Civil Society Nationalism

IranSource

Jun 3, 2019

US sanctions are causing medicine shortages, according to Iranians

By Tahereh Hadian-Jazy

The re-imposition of US sanctions since President Donald Trump abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in May 2018 has had a devastating effect on the Iranian economy and has especially impacted the lives of those who struggle to provide medicine for themselves and their families.

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 31, 2019

Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright: The United States needs alliances to confront challenges

By David A. Wemer

“The world is a mess,” Albright conceded. But to sort out the large problems we are facing, the way forward is to join together, she argued, not to continue to drift apart.

International Norms Populism

MENASource

May 31, 2019

The Tripoli offensive: How did things escalate?

By Borzou Daragahi

The forces of Libya’s rebel army officer Khalifa Haftar are on the outskirts of Tripoli, the capital of Libya, in his ongoing bid to claim the city. Some of his forces traveled more than 1,000 kilometers from Libya’s eastern towns where Haftar has his stronghold.

Libya

New Atlanticist

May 31, 2019

US Congress would undermine transatlantic alliance with Nord Stream 2 sanctions

By Samantha Sultoon

Despite touting its role as the pro-transatlantic alliance arm of the US government, Congress is threatening to undermine critical European partners with new legislation that would impose sanctions on key allies.

European Union Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

UkraineAlert

May 31, 2019

What Ukraine’s new president cannot afford to overlook

By Bohdan Nahaylo

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s resounding victory in April underscored Ukrainians’ desire for change. Proclaiming his commitment to overhauling the entire system, the new president has announced five short-term priorities: change the electoral law, restore criminal liability for unlawful enrichment, and remove the parliamentary immunity of deputies, as well as reform the legal system and eradicate corruption. […]

Conflict Human Rights

MENASource

May 31, 2019

Deciphering the rhetoric and posturing of US-Iran tensions

By Mona Alami

Since his election, US President Donald Trump has pursued a maximum pressure policy toward Iran, in an attempt to push Tehran back to the negotiating table. Yet, despite increasing US pressure on Iran, tit for tat statements, and subversive operations in the Persian Gulf, Tehran is far from willing to antagonize Washington to the point of no return.

Iran

New Atlanticist

May 31, 2019

Trump’s immigration tariffs on Mexico will be painful for United States

By David A. Wemer

While Trump’s aim is to pressure Mexican officials to take more action on illegal immigration, these tariffs “will be most acutely felt by US consumers,” said Jason Marczak.

Economy & Business Mexico

IranSource

May 31, 2019

How US sanctions hinder Iranians’ access to medicine

By Sina Azodi

The United States has over the past four decades imposed a wide range of economic sanctions to punish Iran for a number of undesired policies. While Trump administration officials continue to insist that food and medicine are exempt from US sanctions, and that sanctions do not hurt the Iranian people, evidence suggests that unilateral sanctions are collectively punishing the Iranian population by denying them adequate and reliable access to medicine.

Iran
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