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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German Leopard 2 tank driving through mud, with Bundeswehr Iron Cross visible on the turret

Inflection Points

Jan 29, 2023

Found in translation: the deeper meaning of the German ‘Panzer’ for Ukraine and Europe

By Frederick Kempe

To understand the significance of Germany’s tank decision, it’s worth understanding the history and the emotion behind the word itself.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Inflection Points

Jan 21, 2023

Davos Dispatch: Why now is the time for a ‘Ukraine surge’: military, intelligence, economic and other support to defeat Putin

By Frederick Kempe

Despite the successes of the NATO summit, Russia's missile strike on a Ukrainian shopping mall put the brutality of Putin's war into stark relief.

Conflict Eastern Europe
Germany inaugurates Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal 'Deutsche Ostsee' in Lubmin

Inflection Points

Jan 14, 2023

Dispatch from Abu Dhabi: How to reduce carbon emissions without blocking progress

By Frederick Kempe

Despite the successes of the NATO summit, Russia's missile strike on a Ukrainian shopping mall put the brutality of Putin's war into stark relief.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

Inflection Points

Dec 4, 2022

Autocratic setbacks offer Biden his ‘inflection point’ for democracies

By Frederick Kempe

This year has been a tough one for the world’s worst authoritarians: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, and Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

China Conflict

Inflection Points

Oct 16, 2022

Wanted: Global leadership to meet this historic moment

By Frederick Kempe

There is growing consensus among global leaders regarding the gathering dangers and their historic stakes, but common action is falling far short of this generational challenge.

China Conflict

Inflection Points

Sep 18, 2022

As Putin escalates his war against Ukraine, the world faces a moment of maximum danger—and maximum opportunity

By Frederick Kempe

The United States and its allies must openly discuss the dangers Putin’s war poses to any sovereign country.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Inflection Points

Jul 2, 2022

Special dispatch from Madrid: At NATO’s historic summit, good scores points on evil, but it’s not enough to stop Putin’s Ukraine war

By Frederick Kempe

Despite the successes of the NATO summit, Russia's missile strike on a Ukrainian shopping mall put the brutality of Putin's war into stark relief.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Inflection Points

Jun 26, 2022

Europe’s ‘rewiring’ is crucial in the face of grinding inflation and Putin’s war

By Frederick Kempe

The lessons from two devastating World Wars and a Cold War are that staying unified is a prerequisite for victory and that appeasing despots is always self-defeating.

Conflict Eastern Europe

Inflection Points

Jun 19, 2022

President Xi’s damage control focuses on Europe and the Chinese economy

By Frederick Kempe

As he grapples with the consequences of his own missteps, China's Xi Jinping is in damage control mode ahead of the Chinese Communist Party Congress in November.

China Conflict
Aerial image of the destroyed Kharkiv National Stadium

Inflection Points

Jun 5, 2022

It’s time to show Putin a dead end in Ukraine, not an off-ramp

By Frederick Kempe

The West needs to pursue a Ukrainian victory, and offering Putin an off-ramp instead would be a big mistake.

China Conflict
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