Category: Dispatches

Experts react: Colombia’s presidential runoff pits the far right against the far left. What’s next?

By Atlantic Council experts

Abelardo de la Espriella and Iván Cepeda, who represent opposite ends of the political spectrum, will move ahead to the June 21 runoff.

Signing is the easy part: Two former US negotiators on the perils of implementing a deal with Iran

By Abram Paley, Nate Swanson

Abram Paley and Nate Swanson helped negotiate the last US-Iran deal, a 2023 prisoner exchange. Here's what they learned and how it applies to today's talks.

How terrorism imperils Pakistan’s polio eradication efforts

Pakistan has never been closer to ending polio, but frontline health workers are operating inside one of the world's most violent security environments.

Tehran wants to end the war—but not at any price

By Danny Citrinowicz  

Iran’s leadership is not prepared to make dramatic concessions that, in its view, would undermine the ideological foundations of the Islamic Republic.

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn't stop Washington's other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

The Iran problem won’t be solved without a counter-drone coalition

By Bilal Y. Saab and Natasha Ahmed

The United States should form a partnership with Ukraine and Gulf partners around the idea of counter-drone-as-a-service, instead of selling counter-drone hardware alone.

Golden Dome needs a price tag and a clear objective to succeed

By Dan Hart

Congress, the Pentagon and the broader Trump administration have different ideas and cost estimates for this new missile defense effort.

The future of US counterterrorism: An expert assessment of the 2026 White House strategy

By Atlantic Council experts

Members of the Atlantic Council Counterterrorism Project dig into the Trump administration’s new US Counterterrorism Strategy.

With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the Panama Canal is busier than ever. It should use this windfall wisely.

By María Fernanda Bozmoski, Ignacio Albe

Panama must use its revenues smartly by reinvesting in upkeep and in solutions that efficiently use the limited water resources.

Dispatch from Greece: Geopolitical crises are accelerating collaboration between Europe and the Gulf

By Jonathan Panikoff, Jörn Fleck, and John Cookson

A look behind the scenes at the recent Europe Gulf Forum, hosted by the Antenna Group in partnership with the Atlantic Council.