Economy & Business

Covert capital: Illicit finance in the DR Congo

On May 22, the Africa Center partnered with The Sentry at the Enough Project to host a public discussion on illicit finance operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), occasioned by the release of the group’s new report, Covert Capital: The Kabila Family’s Secret Investment Bank, which tracks efforts by former President Joseph Kabila […]

EU Elections 2019: The Future of the European Project

On May 29, the Future Europe Initiative partnered with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to facilitate a discussion on the results and implications of the 2019 EU Elections. This event featured an address by Antoine Ripoll, the Director of the EU Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, followed by a panel […]

US Congress would undermine transatlantic alliance with Nord Stream 2 sanctions

By Samantha Sultoon

Despite touting its role as the pro-transatlantic alliance arm of the US government, Congress is threatening to undermine critical European partners with new legislation that would impose sanctions on key allies.

Trump’s immigration tariffs on Mexico will be painful for United States

By David A. Wemer

While Trump’s aim is to pressure Mexican officials to take more action on illegal immigration, these tariffs “will be most acutely felt by US consumers,” said Jason Marczak.

Will Zelenskiy put Ukraine’s interests first?

By Diane Francis

Americans and Europeans became worried about Kolomoisky’s power after Zelenskiy appointed the oligarch’s long-time lawyer, Andriy Bohdan, to head the government’s administration.

Zelenskiy sows confusion and another chance for change

By Oksana Bedratenko

Volodymyr Zelenskiy may be popular among Ukrainians, but he is getting the cold shoulder from its political elite. Ukraine’s new president has few friends in the parliament and government. Within days of taking office, Zelenskiy suffered a defeat in the Rada as the parliament has not considered his bill for a new electoral law. The […]

How to create the impossible in Ukraine

By Anatoly Motkin

Volodymyr Zelenskiy won in a landslide. Ukrainian voters blamed incumbent Petro Poroshenko for two problems: the lack of significant success in combating corruption, and insufficient economic growth in the poorest country in Europe. These two problems have a common solution, which is transitioning Ukraine from a post-Soviet industrial economy to a knowledge economy. Perhaps the main difference between Zelenskiy and his predecessors is that he is the product of a new, creative economy. Zelenskiy, who […]

WTO Deputy Director-General Wolff: The United States seeks to change the WTO

By Marie Kasperek

While Washington’s path to achieve change is highly disruptive, many of the US administration’s points of discontent are shared by other members who agree that the WTO is in urgent need of reform.

Ukraine inaugurates new president

By David J. Kramer and John E. Herbst

Wasting little time after winning Ukraine’s April 21 presidential election in a landslide, the country’s new president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, vowed in his inauguration speech on Monday to dissolve the parliament and hold early elections. After winning 73 percent of the vote in the second round, Zelenskiy may be hoping to ride the political wave, and […]