Content

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2025

Democracy, dealmaking, and stability: Rethinking US engagement in Africa

By Mason Ingram, Alysson Oakley, and Jack Higgins

The near- and long-term interests of African societies and key US stakeholders are bolstered by the advancement of democratic, accountable, and stable governance on the continent. A robust democracy assistance strategy in Africa is in line with long-standing US values that underpin America’s reputation and image on the continent, and is also instrumental to current US objectives. 

Africa
Corruption

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2025

Engaging generative artificial intelligence in African development

By William Yancey Brown

From classrooms to farming communities, generative artificial intelligence holds great potential for Africa. The question is whether its promise of abundance will reach everyone—or only those already well-connected.

Africa
Artificial Intelligence

Report

Dec 15, 2025

Beijing pressures Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic partners. Here’s what the US should do in response

By Kitsch Liao, Nik Foster, Santiago Villa

Taiwan’s shrinking circle of diplomatic partners plays a crucial role in deterring Chinese coercion, and the United States needs a more targeted strategy to help preserve this support and maintain cross-strait stability.

China
Politics & Diplomacy

Report

Dec 12, 2025

Inside Trump’s peace plans  

By Atlantic Council experts

From Rwanda to Cambodia, US President Donald Trump’s peace efforts mix economic pressure, trade deals, and high-profile ceremonies. His unorthodox style produces rapid results—but can it achieve lasting peace?

Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

It’s all about Hamas’s disarmament

By Daniel B. Shapiro

A US-brokered cease-fire ended the Israel-Hamas war, but the next phase depends on the group’s disarmament. Until that happens, Gaza’s reconstruction, regional diplomacy, and political future hang in the balance.

Israel
Middle East

Issue Brief

Dec 12, 2025

In Southeast Asia, the promise and pitfalls of tariff diplomacy are on full display 

By Amy Searight

US President Donald Trump’s high-profile intervention in the Thai-Cambodian border dispute delivered a cease-fire, but its violation exposes the fragility of tariff diplomacy and raises questions about the durability of coercive US diplomacy in the region.

Indo-Pacific
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Issue Brief

Dec 10, 2025

Middle powers’ game-changing rivalries in Africa

By Rama Yade

As traditional powers retreat, middle powers like Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia are stepping into Africa with ambitious investments and strategic outreach. Their growing presence is transforming alliances, competition, and development across the continent.

Africa
Middle East

Issue Brief

Dec 4, 2025

Improving transatlantic cooperation on digital competition

By Zach Meyers

Greater dialogue between US and EU regulators would reveal similar priorities on digital competition, mergers, and antitrust issues, and could lead to greater alignment on key digital competition issues.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Dec 4, 2025

A stronger, safer, and more prosperous hemisphere: The case for investing in democracy in the Americas

By Antonio Garrastazu and Henrique Arevalo Poincot

This issue brief is the fourth in the Freedom and Prosperity Center's "Future of democracy assistance" series, which analyzes the many complex challenges to democracy around the world—and highlights actionable policies that promote democratic governance.

Civil Society
Democratic Transitions

Issue Brief

Dec 3, 2025

Cloudbusting: Policy for evaluating trust in compute infrastructure

By Sara Ann Brackett

A global cloud built on technical assurances—not geography—is essential to securing critical infrastructure and the future of AI.

Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity