Politics & Diplomacy

Politics & Diplomacy

Healthy democratic societies are governed through the holding of elections, passage of policies through government institutions, and equal application of the law to all citizens. These activities influence not only the internal decisions of these societies, but also inform the ways countries interact with their regional and global neighbors, whether through direct bilateral ties or encompassed in larger international organizations.

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‘Numbers are getting worse’: The head of the IMF on the Iran war shock, inflation, AI risks, and more

New Atlanticist Mar 18, 2025

The Gaza cease-fire is over. What’s next from Israel, Hamas, and the US?

By Atlantic Council experts

In the early hours of March 18, Israel launched air strikes on Gaza, ending the two-month cease-fire. Atlantic Council experts answer pressing questions about the resumed conflict.
Conflict Israel
‘Numbers are getting worse’: The head of the IMF on the Iran war shock, inflation, AI risks, and more

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
‘Numbers are getting worse’: The head of the IMF on the Iran war shock, inflation, AI risks, and more

Issue Brief Mar 13, 2025

Present without impact? How the Middle East perceives China’s diplomatic engagement

By Jonathan Fulton

Despite economic advancements and high-profile diplomatic engagements, China’s influence remains largely economic rather than political, Jonathan Fulton argues.
China Economy & Business

Content

Inflection Points Dialogues

May 19, 2026

‘Numbers are getting worse’: The head of the IMF on the Iran war shock, inflation, AI risks, and more

By Frederick Kempe

Watch IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva talk with Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe from the Europe Gulf Forum in Greece.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Dispatches

May 19, 2026

Dispatch from Bucharest: NATO’s center of gravity is shifting eastward

By Alex Șerban, Dorian Obreajan

A recent summit shows that Eastern and Northern European allies are increasingly shaping the Alliance’s strategic agenda on defense and resilience.

Eastern Europe NATO

In the News

May 18, 2026

Kroenig interviewed on Fox News on Trump’s trip to China

By Atlantic Council

On May 14, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was interviewed on Fox News radio on President Trump's trip to China.

China Politics & Diplomacy

Uncategorized

May 16, 2026

Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: Trump in Beijing: Respect, Leverage, and the New Realism of U.S.–China Relations

By Atlantic Council

China East Asia

Dispatches

May 15, 2026

Where’s the beef? Trump’s underwhelming meeting with Xi.

By Melanie Hart

Trump appears to have sidestepped the biggest trap—Beijing’s attempt to box Washington in on Taiwan—but underperformed on everything else.

China Economy & Business

MENASource

May 15, 2026

The problem with the US power-sharing plan for Libya

By Karim Mezran, Dario Cristiani

The nascent US initiative may succeed in reducing tensions and creating a slightly more predictable environment for foreign businesses, but a structural transformation remains out of reach.

Corruption Libya

Dispatches

May 15, 2026

Don’t fall for the middle-power mirage

By Imran Bayoumi

The kind of multilateralism that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about in Davos remains an aspiration rather than an achievable reality.

China Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

May 14, 2026

Putin’s parade projected weakness but he is now more dangerous than ever

By Maksym Beznosiuk, William Dixon

While the Kremlin dictator is clearly in a weakened position, a diminished Vladimir Putin could be more dangerous than ever, write Maksym Beznosiuk and William Dixon.

Conflict Drones

UkraineAlert

May 14, 2026

Bulgaria is unlikely to become Putin’s new proxy within the European Union

By Kristian Kafozov

Newly elected Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev is unlikely to replace recently ousted Hungarian leader Viktor Orban as Vladimir Putin's proxy within the EU and NATO, writes Kristian Kafozov.

Conflict Defense Policy

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council's Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland Northern Europe
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Experts

Fellow

Nic Adams

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Paul Adamson

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Akeel Abbas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Human Rights

Millennium fellow

Saeed Al Nazari

Secretary General, Great Arab Minds

Millennium Leadership Program

Education Middle East

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Fellow

Safwan Al-Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 20, 2026 • 12:15 pm ET

Senator Bernie Moreno on Colombia’s 2026 elections
Americas Colombia Elections Latin America
Public Event Thu, May 21, 2026 • 1:30 pm ET

Report launch: Who rules Chechnya next?
Conflict Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia
Public Event Tue, May 26, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

Security challenges and paths to stability in the Sahel
Democratic Transitions Economy & Business Elections Extremism
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