Content Type: Timely Commentary & Analysis

Reimagining a way forward: Iraq’s economy and energy sector in the post-invasion era

By Amna Haider and Mahnaz Vahdati

On April 24, 2023, the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative convened a hybrid panel discussion to examine Iraq’s current economic and energy landscape, and their future trajectory. The panel discussed Iraq’s significant progress in rebuilding its economy and energy sectors that have suffered since the 2003 US invasion of the country, despite facing various challenges such […]

James Cleverly on the UK’s support for Ukraine and foreign policy ‘refresh’

By Atlantic Council

The UK foreign secretary joined the Atlantic Council to talk about the UK's national-security strategy, support for Ukraine, and China policy.

20-Year retrospective: Reflecting on the ‘Mission Accomplished’ speech and its aftermath

By Amna Haider

On the first of May, 2003, six weeks after the US invasion of Iraq, former US President George W. Bush delivered the widely known “Mission Accomplished” speech while aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. On the twentieth anniversary of this speech, the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative hosted a virtual discussion with distinguished guest speaker General David […]

Decarbonization solutions for addressing Europe’s green industrial policy challenge 

By Transform Europe Initiative

The Atlantic Council co-hosted a high-level workshop on “Decarbonization solutions for addressing Europe’s green industrial policy challenge” in Paris with the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) and Groupe d’études geopolitiques (GEG).

State of the Order: Assessing March 2023

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Wendy Sherman on the United States’ priorities as it takes the helm of the Freedom Online Coalition

By Atlantic Council

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman outlined the priorities for the world's democratic tech alliance, from protecting fundamental freedoms online to building resilience against digital authoritarianism.

Trajectories of Iraqi youth two decades after the 2003 invasion: Between aspirations and reality

By Britt Gronemeyer

On March 20, 2023, the Atlantic Council’s Iraq Initiative hosted a discussion with a number of young Iraqi civil society activists and prospective leaders to reflect on the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Modernizing critical infrastructure protection policy: Seven perspectives on rewriting PPD21

By Will Loomis

In February of 2013, then President Obama signed a landmark executive order - Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD 21) - that defined how U.S. Departments and Agencies would provide a unity of government effort to strengthen and maintain US critical infrastructure. Almost a decade later, evolutions in both the threat landscape and the interagency community invite the US government to revise this critical policy.

Prioritizing response and recovery for US persons wrongfully detained abroad

By Britt Gronemeyer and Alana Mitias

On February 15, the Atlantic Council’s Strategic Litigation Project held a discussion about the United States’ approach to cases of wrongful detentions abroad, how strategies can be improved, and ways to better support the families of those detained.