Politics & Diplomacy

For Putin, the ‘root cause’ of the war is the existence of independent Ukraine

By Kateryna Odarchenko

Moscow claims to be ready for peace once the "root causes" of the Russia-Ukraine War are addressed, but Putin's demands confirm that he believes the "root cause" of the war is the existence of an independent Ukraine, writes Kateryna Odarchenko.

How the US–Canada trade dispute is seen in Mexico

By Brenda Estefan

For Mexico, the US–Canada trade rupture is neither a model to emulate nor a warning against confronting Trump. It is a window into the USMCA negotiations ahead.

What’s at stake for the AfD and Merz in Germany’s three September elections

By Phyllis Berry

The far-right Alternative for Germany is poised to make gains in three upcoming state-level votes in the eastern part of the country.

Where and how Putin could expand his war in Europe beyond Ukraine

By Atlantic Council experts

The CIA director’s recent unannounced visit to Moscow has raised speculation about Russian plans to escalate attacks.

Europe should already start planning for a post-Lukashenka Belarus

By Viktar Baranau

There is nothing about today’s Belarus that suggests a country on the verge of change. Nevertheless, European policymakers would be well-advised to begin preparing for a post-Lukashenka Belarus now, in order to have a plan in place when the moment of transition arrives, writes Viktar Baranau.

A revolutionary coffee: The impact of Syria’s removal from the terrorism sponsor list

The US removal of the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism is big step for Syria toward its post-Assad future.

Why China’s export-maximizing strategy is working—for now

By Martin Mühleisen

China’s economy faces real constraints, but Beijing’s repressive political system might manage them for far longer than expected.

Ukrainians are not superheroes with endless powers of resilience

By Lauren Van Metre, Elena Davlikanova

By celebrating Ukrainian resilience as an almost superhuman quality, the international community risks obscuring the much less glamorous reality that Ukrainians are actually ordinary people who have endured extraordinary violence for far too long, write Lauren Van Metre and Elena Davlikanova.

Is the Bangladesh–India relationship headed for a reset or a relapse?

By Ali Riaz

Sheikh Hasina's political activity from exile in India is straining India-Bangladesh relations and threatening to upend a fragile reset.

What Iceland’s referendum means for the EU’s future

By Atlantic Council experts

Ahead of an important referendum in Iceland on restarting accession talks with the EU, Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the referendum's potential implications.