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IranSource

Jul 31, 2018

Could Releasing Iran’s Green Movement Leaders Help Reformists?

By Arash Azizi

It all started with a rumor. By July 28, many Iranians discussed the imminent release of the Green Movement leaders—Mir-Hossein Mousavi, his wife Zahra Rahnavard and Mehdi Karroubi—who are under house arrest since early 2011 for leading the 2009 post-election protests. Karroubi’s son, Hossein, said that a “credible source” had informed him that Iran’s Supreme […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 31, 2018

A Free and Open Indo-Pacific

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Trump administration has turned its attention squarely toward the Indo-Pacific, with one eye firmly on an increasingly assertive China. In a significant policy speech in Washington on July 30, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States seeks “partnership, not domination,” in the Indo-Pacific. In a thinly veiled reference to China, Pompeo […]

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

NATOSource

Jul 31, 2018

How Trump Can Defend US, NATO, and Ukraine From Russian Aggression

By Michael B. Mukasey, Wall Street Journal

Americans must at least take seriously the possibility that Mr. Trump diminished the U.S. commitment to European defense.

NATO Russia

IranSource

Jul 30, 2018

Trump Says He’s Willing to Meet Iran’s Rouhani Without Preconditions

By David Wemer

Eight days ago, US President Donald J. Trump warned Hassan Rouhani of dire “consequences” should the Iranian president persist with his threats against the United States. On July 30, Trump said he would be willing to meet with the Iranian leader at any time “with no preconditions.” “If they [the Iranians] want to meet, we’ll […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 30, 2018

Trump Says He’s Willing to Meet Iran’s Rouhani Without Preconditions

By David Wemer

Eight days ago, US President Donald J. Trump warned Hassan Rouhani of dire “consequences” should the Iranian president persist with his threats against the United States. On July 30, Trump said he would be willing to meet with the Iranian leader at any time “with no preconditions.” “If they [the Iranians] want to meet, we’ll […]

Iran

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2018

If Trump Wants to Show He’s Tough on Russia, Here’s What He Should Do Next

By Roman Sohn and Ariana Gic

On July 25, the United States reaffirmed its rejection of Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea. In the Crimea Declaration, the United States recognizes that by annexing Crimea, Russia violated the fundamental principle of the United Nations Charter by using force against the territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine, and calls on […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2018

Why It’s Too Soon to Celebrate Ukraine’s New National Security Law

By Lada L. Roslycky and Olena Tregub

Ukraine’s Soviet-based national security framework has finally been replaced. Ukraine’s Rada passed the bill on June 21 and its passage was greeted with a mix of praise and skepticism. The US State Department publicly welcomed Ukraine’s new national security law, noting that the framework will increase cooperation with NATO, and its full implementation will deepen […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jul 30, 2018

US Engagement in the Balkans is Critical, Says Albania’s Foreign Minister

By Atlantic Council

Albanian Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati says US engagement in the Balkans is critical to ensure that there will be no derailment of the effort by Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to normalize relations that would pave the way for the latter to join NATO. “Now that both countries [Greece and Macedonia] […]

European Union International Organizations

SyriaSource

Jul 30, 2018

Russia’s refugee ploy

By Frederic C. Hof

Moscow’s sudden interest in expediting the return of Syrian refugees to their homes is not prompted by humanitarian concerns. Neither is it motivated by a desire to promote political conditions inside Syria that would encourage people to return to the country from which they fled.

Syria

UkraineAlert

Jul 30, 2018

Good Things Are Happening in Ukraine, Even if They Don’t Make Headlines

By Tim Ash

Ukraine just got a big win. On July 25, the International Monetary Fund signaled its support for Ukraine’s amended plans to create an Anticorruption Court. The Rada passed the original bill in June and amended it on July 12 to address concerns subsequently raised by the IMF.

Ukraine