Middle East Instability: A Chinese Perspective to the Latest Flashpoint

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
Middle East Instability: A Chinese Perspective to the Latest Flashpoint

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 Economic Sanctions
Middle East Instability: A Chinese Perspective to the Latest Flashpoint

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

China-MENA Podcast

Feb 20, 2024

Middle East Instability: A Chinese Perspective to the Latest Flashpoint

By Atlantic Council

Chuchu Zhang joins us from Shanghai to explore China's evolving response to the ongoing instability in the Middle East—including the attacks in the Red Sea and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict— and how they could test US hegemony in the region.

China Economy & Business

UkraineAlert

Feb 20, 2024

Time is running out to help Ukraine and defend the West

By Victor Pinchuk

The West is potentially overwhelmingly stronger than Russia and can enable Ukraine to win. But this will require far more effort and speed, writes Victor Pinchuk.

Conflict Defense Policy

MENASource

Feb 20, 2024

Here’s what an uncoordinated US withdrawal from Syria would look like. It’s bad for many partners, but especially Turkey.

By Ömer Özkizilcik

An uncoordinated withdrawal from Syria by the United States could pose significant risks for Turkey, leaving the country alone against Iran and Russia.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

Inflection Points

Feb 20, 2024

Dispatch from Munich: The lessons of appeasement for US lawmakers withholding support for Ukraine

By Frederick Kempe

The lesson of Munich, then and now, is that the cost of countering a despot will only grow.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

MENASource

Feb 18, 2024

Regardless of Sisi’s decision on Palestinian refugees in Rafah, he will not emerge as a winner  

By Shahira Amin

Now that Israel has clarified its intent to undertake operations in Rafah, after evacuating the nearly 1.4 million displaced Palestinians who have sought a safe haven in the Gaza Strip’s southern city, it may only be a matter of time before the Egyptian's president's true intentions are revealed.

Conflict Middle East

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2024

Russia’s democracy movement will survive the death of Navalny

By Dylan Myles-Primakoff

The strategies and messages that the late opposition leader developed for fighting the Putin regime have spread to a diverse group of Russian pro-democracy actors.

Civil Society Corruption

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2024

Navalny’s life and death show Putinism isn’t inevitable

By Doug Klain

The Russian opposition leader built a national movement based on exposing the rampant corruption and gangsterism of Putin’s system.

Corruption Freedom and Prosperity

IranSource

Feb 16, 2024

Iran is socially engineering mass depression to suppress dissent  

By Saeid Golkar and Kasra Aarabi

The Islamic Republic has worked tirelessly to strategize and doctrinize control of Iranians’ minds and bodies. But it hasn't always been successful.

Iran Middle East

Atlantic Debrief

Feb 16, 2024

#AtlanticDebrief – What are Poland’s priorities for Europe? | A Debrief from Michał Kobosko MP

Warsaw Office Director Aaron Korewa sits down with Chairman of the Committee on EU Affairs of the Sejm Michał Kobosko MP to discuss Poland’s geopolitical priorities and outlook for the transatlantic relationship.

European Union NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 15, 2024

Experts react: Prabowo Subianto has claimed victory in Indonesia. What’s in store for his presidency?

By Atlantic Council experts

The current Indonesian defense minister is poised to be his country’s next president, with projections showing him easily clearing 50 percent in the February 14 election.

Elections Indo-Pacific
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Experts

Fellow

Alan Pino

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Intelligence Iran

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Slavina Ancheva

MPP Candidate and Belfer Young Leader, Harvard Kennedy School

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Civil Society

Fellow

Kayla T. Orta

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Arms Control East Asia

Fellow

Amir Asmar

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Intelligence Israel

Fellow

William B. Taylor

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

English Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Public Event Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Public Event Mon, June 2, 2025 • 1:30 pm ET

Decolonizing Ukraine and securing freedom for the indigenous people of Crimea
Human Rights Nationalism Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Online Event Fri, June 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The societal value of religious freedom: An integral human development approach
Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding