Inflection Points

Inflection Points

A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them.

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Biden speaks to the nation

Inflection Points

Oct 21, 2023

Biden’s inflection point and history’s sobering lessons

By Frederick Kempe

Now that Biden has identified this inflection point and its actors, it’s worth reflecting on what the term means—and what it demands from the United States and its global partners.

Israel Middle East
Biden addresses the nation

Inflection Points

Oct 12, 2023

Israel, Ukraine, and how Biden should connect the dots

By Frederick Kempe

When Biden does get around to making his speech on Ukraine, he should discuss the attacks on Israel and how the US and its allies face the greatest threat to global order since the 1930s.

Israel Middle East

Inflection Points

Sep 17, 2023

On China, grant the US the wisdom to distinguish between what it can and cannot change

By Frederick Kempe

In crafting its strategy on managing its relations with China, the United States should begin with a geopolitical serenity prayer.

China Elections

Inflection Points

Jul 15, 2023

Dispatch from Vilnius: Inside a NATO Summit of high drama on Ukraine—and historic opportunity

By Frederick Kempe

The fireworks were unusual in a consensus-driven Alliance that values decorum and discretion. But the summit still yielded several strategic wins.

Conflict NATO

Inflection Points

Jul 9, 2023

Dispatch from Vilnius: Will Zelenskyy show at the summit? It depends on whether Biden listens to frontline NATO allies.

By Frederick Kempe

Central European officials say the US has held up a fast track to NATO membership for Ukraine. That would be a mistake.

Conflict Eastern Europe
Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe speaks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Atlantic Council Chairman John F. W. Rogers

Inflection Points

Jun 4, 2023

Dispatch from Kyiv: Ukraine deserves NATO membership and even more robust weapons

By Frederick Kempe

An Atlantic Council delegation's trip to Kyiv this week highlighted how important additional support is to Ukraine.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Inflection Points

May 21, 2023

G7 triumphs and the debt ceiling quagmire provide a glimpse into competing futures for US global leadership

By Frederick Kempe

A strong performance at the G7, juxtaposed with the United States' debt ceiling drama, highlights the challenges facing US international leadership.

China East Asia

Inflection Points

Apr 23, 2023

Three logical flaws stand in the way of a sufficient response to the Ukraine challenge

By Frederick Kempe

The West must make sacrifices in the present to secure the future.

China Conflict

Inflection Points

Mar 25, 2023

‘When we are together, we drive these changes.’ What Xi and Putin’s deepening alliance means for the world order.

By Frederick Kempe

At the three-day meeting this week in Moscow, the Russian president’s desperation met the Chinese leader’s opportunism. The visit marks an inflection point for global order.

China Conflict

Inflection Points

Feb 26, 2023

The value of Biden’s visit to Ukraine depends on the speed and scale of what follows

By Frederick Kempe

This isn’t a time for half-hearted measures. Now, the United States and its allies must recognize the existential stakes of the conflict and step up accordingly.

Conflict Eastern Europe
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