Content

Dispatches

Mar 12, 2026

Energy under attack: What the Gulf can learn from Ukraine and Iraq

By Matthew Keating

In their successes and shortcomings, Iraq and Ukraine are cases worth studying by countries currently under attack from Iran.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

Dispatches

Mar 12, 2026

To succeed, Trump’s Shield of the Americas should focus on institutions as well as cartels

By Henrique Arevalo Poincot

The strongest defense is a hemisphere where institutions are resilient enough to resist and dismantle criminal networks.

Americas Central America

Dispatches

Mar 11, 2026

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the Iran war

By Atlantic Council experts

As the US-Israeli war against Iran reverberates across the Middle East and the globe, Atlantic Council experts bring clarity to the fast-moving events.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Mar 11, 2026

Dispatch from Beirut: Is this Hezbollah’s ‘last war’ with Israel?

By Nicholas Blanford

Hezbollah’s strategy, likely in coordination with Iran, appears to be to inflict as much pain on Israel for as long as possible.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Mar 10, 2026

When the Iran operation is finished, Trump should prioritize ending the war in Ukraine

By William B. Taylor

US President Donald Trump has the ability to force Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the killing—if Trump uses the appropriate leverage.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Dispatches

Mar 10, 2026

Has the EU found a ‘magic bullet’ to its enlargement conundrum or a new distraction?

By Agon Maliqi

A proposal for European Union enlargement would offer new member states a kind of second-class status, effectively creating a two-tier EU.

European Union Eurozone

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

How would a Kurdish offensive change the war in Iran?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our experts explain the goals of the various Kurdish groups the United States is reportedly backing for an attack against Iran and how their involvement could impact the wider war.

Conflict Defense Policy

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

Washington’s limited levers to shape a post-Khamenei Iran

By Nate Swanson, Ingrid Small

The United States and its allies do have some options to coax change that might result in a more Western-leaning Tehran.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

The US and China are in ‘gray zone’ competition. A counterinsurgency model can help explain what that means.

By Dan Minnocci

A model originally designed for counterinsurgency can offer insights into the nature of US-China strategic competition.

Defense Policy Indo-Pacific

Dispatches

Mar 6, 2026

How the White House’s plan B on tariffs can give it all the trade leverage it needs

By Mark Linscott

The US Supreme Court recently struck down IEEPA tariffs, which the White House had used as leverage in trade talks, but there are other options.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy