In-depth research and reports

The America first energy plan: Renewing the confidence of American energy producers

By Sara Vakhshouri

To achieve the desired increase in domestic fossil fuel production and energy employment, President Trump, his administration, and his allies have promised to implement the America First Energy Plan, intended to reinvigorate the US coal industry, expand domestic fossil fuel production, cut regulations, open federal land for fossil fuel exploration, and reduce federal support for climate and environmental programs. What affect is the plan having on US energy industries?

Left of launch: Countering theater ballistic missiles

By Herbert C. Kemp

NATO currently finds itself in an increasingly competitive international environment, with potential adversaries who field, among other things, progressively capable ballistic and cruise missile capabilities. This is particularly the case with Russia, which has proven itself capable of fielding conventional long- range strike capabilities that can reach far into NATO territory.

Left of launch: Countering theater ballistic missiles

By Herbert C. Kemp

NATO currently finds itself in an increasingly competitive international environment, with potential adversaries who field, among other things, progressively capable ballistic and cruise missile capabilities. This is particularly the case with Russia, which has proven itself capable of fielding conventional long- range strike capabilities that can reach far into NATO territory.

Nuclear geopolitics in the Baltic Sea region: Exposing Russian strategic interests behind Ostrovets NPP

By Giedrius Česnakas and Justinas Juozaitis

In the Baltic Sea Region, there is an important but often overlooked and underestimated security challenge brewing. Russia is increasing its foothold in Belarus by facilitating and supporting the construction of the Ostrovets NPP, while simultaneously blocking other strategic energy projects.

Nuclear geopolitics in the Baltic Sea region: Exposing Russian strategic interests behind Ostrovets NPP

By Giedrius Česnakas and Justinas Juozaitis

In the Baltic Sea Region, there is an important but often overlooked and underestimated security challenge brewing. Russia is increasing its foothold in Belarus by facilitating and supporting the construction of the Ostrovets NPP, while simultaneously blocking other strategic energy projects.

The US-UK “special relationship” at a critical crossroads

By Schuyler Foerster and Ray Raymond

Ever since World War II, the United States and the United Kingdom have enjoyed a truly special relationship grounded in a shared commitment to a world order based on democracy, the rule of law, and free trade, among other commonalities. However, significant changes on both sides of the Atlantic–with Britain’s decision to exit the European […]

The US-UK “special relationship” at a critical crossroads

In this issue brief, Dr. Foerster and Dr. Raymond outline the key elements of this unique relationship and provide their recommendations for strengthening the partnership that helps anchor the liberal international order.

The European Union could be simple, inclusive, or effective. Pick two.

By Dimiter Toshkov

To many, the European Union (EU) is a complex entity overburdened by rules. In The European Union Could Be Simple, Inclusive, or Effective. Pick Two., author Dimiter Toshkov, an associate professor at the Institute of Public Administration at Leiden University, presents the structural dilemma facing the EU: accommodating the diverse interests of twenty-eight member states […]

Libya: From intervention to proxy war

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

More than six years after Libya’s 2011 revolution against Muammar al-Qaddafi, the situation in the country is significantly more complex and dangerous. The failure of the 2011 NATO intervention to assist the country with a comprehensive stabilization process led to rapid deterioration on the ground and created an opportunity for external actors to pursue competing […]

Libya: From intervention to proxy war

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

In this issue brief, Dr. Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller explore the dynamics of regional and international actors most involved in Libya’s proxy conflict, as well as recent incidents of escalation that threaten to further destabilize the country.

Partner operations in Syria: Lessons learned and the way forward

By Aaron Stein

This report is based on a series of interviews with US officials and details two efforts to achieve US objectives to take back territory from ISIS in Syria—with elements trained in Turkey, as part of the Train and Equip program, and through the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the dominant local force in northeastern Syria. The […]

Journey to the West: Chinese opportunities in European infrastructure expansion

By Maximilian Gebhardt

Maximilian Gebhardt explores the implications and challenges of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for European Union infrastructure investments in the latest issue brief from the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative: “Journey to the West: Chinese Opportunities in European Infrastructure Expansion.” As the European Union aims to deepen integration, particularly in the field of infrastructure, […]

Journey to the West: Chinese opportunities in European infrastructure expansion

By Maximilian Gebhardt

Maximilian Gebhardt explores the implications and challenges of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for European Union infrastructure investments in the latest issue brief from the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative

Big Data: a twenty-first century arms race

By Atlantic Council and Thomson Reuters

We are living in a world awash in data. Accelerated interconnectivity, driven by the proliferation of internet-connected devices, has led to an explosion of data—big data.

Transforming India from a balancing to leading power

By Bharath Gopalaswamy, Manish Tewari

In the brief, the authors present policy recommendations for US policy makers as a newly assertive India seeks to assume a leading role in Asia.

Transforming India from a balancing to leading power

By Manish Tewari and Bharath Gopalaswamy

“It is vital for American interests in Asia to have India as an economic and strategic ally,” writes Bharath Gopalaswamy and former Minister Manish Tewari in “Transforming India from a Balancing to Leading Power,” a new brief from the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center. In the brief, the authors present policy recommendations for US policy […]

The origins and evolution of ISIS in Libya

By Jason Pack, Rhiannon Smith, and Karim Mezran

For the past three decades, Libya has been a rich recruiting ground for the global jihad. Investigating the precursors and then subsequent evolution of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and other extremist actors throughout this period presents actionable insights into how jihadist actors coalesce; how they interfere in post-conflict state building; the […]

Economic Sanctions: Sharpening a vital foreign policy tool

By John Forrer

Despite the popularity of economic sanctions as a foreign policy tool, their ability to deliver sustained impacts on target countries is often called into question. In “Economic Sanctions–A Vital Foreign Policy Tool,” author John Forrer, associate research professor of strategic management and public policy at the School of Business at George Washington University, explains the […]