Dispatch from Riyadh: Why Syria is central to the Middle East’s future

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
Dispatch from Riyadh: Why Syria is central to the Middle East’s future

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
Dispatch from Riyadh: Why Syria is central to the Middle East’s future

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

Dec 19, 2025

Dispatch from Riyadh: Why Syria is central to the Middle East’s future

By Frederick Kempe

One year after Bashar al-Assad's fall, a visit to Saudi Arabia reveals the opportunities emerging to ensure that Syria doesn’t again fall prey to Iranian adventurism and regional chaos.

Middle East
Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Dec 18, 2025

Democracy and stability in Africa: Why US leadership still matters

By Mason Ingram, Alysson Oakley, and Jack Higgins

The near- and long-term interests of African societies and key US stakeholders are bolstered by the advancement of democratic, accountable, and stable governance on the continent. A robust democracy assistance strategy in Africa is in line with long-standing US values that underpin America’s reputation and image on the continent, and is also instrumental to current US objectives. 

Africa
Corruption

UkraineAlert

Dec 18, 2025

Prisoner releases are welcome news but talk of a Belarus thaw is premature

By Hanna Liubakova

The freeing of 123 political prisoners in Belarus last week is encouraging news but should not be interpreted as an indication of more fundamental change, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus
Conflict

UkraineAlert

Dec 18, 2025

What’s in the new US defense bill for Ukraine?

By Doug Klain

The NDAA includes the best legislative support from Congress that Ukraine has received all year. At the same time, it also underscores the dramatic reduction in overall US support for Ukraine during 2025, writes Doug Klain.

Conflict
Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2025

Can US leaders convince Americans that Taiwan is worth fighting for?

By Phillip M. Ramirez

If elected leaders in the United States want to continue to deter Chinese military action, they must work to convince Beijing that Americans would be willing to fight for Taiwan.

China
Conflict

Dispatches

Dec 17, 2025

What Trump’s Venezuela oil blockade means for Maduro and the world

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts react to news that the US military would soon impose a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into or out of Venezuela.

Caribbean
Democratic Transitions

MENASource

Dec 17, 2025

Is Iran’s Axis of Resistance turning toward Tunisia?

By Alissa Pavia

Tunisian President Kais Saied sees clear political advantage in drawing closer to Tehran.

Iran
Middle East

UkraineAlert

Dec 16, 2025

‘Putin is lying’: Zelenskyy visits front to expose false claims of Russian gains

By Peter Dickinson

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid a personal visit last week to a front line city that Putin has repeatedly bragged of seizing in order to expose the Russian leader's habit of lying about battlefield gains, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict
Disinformation

UkraineAlert

Dec 16, 2025

The only winner from Ukrainian wartime elections would be Putin

By Yuriy Boyechko

Ukrainians are fighting to defend their democracy against Kremlin authoritarianism, but they are also in no rush to hold wartime elections amid relentless Russian bombardment and with millions of Ukrainians displaced, writes Yuriy Boyechko.

Conflict
Elections

MENASource

Dec 16, 2025

What will 2026 bring for the Middle East and North Africa?

By Atlantic Council experts

As 2025 comes to a close, our senior analysts unpack the most prominent trends and topics they are tracking for the new year.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Democratic Transitions
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Helena Fee Rasch

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Grégoire Roos

Director, Europe and Russia and Eurasia Programmes, Chatham House

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Brett McGurk

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

English Middle East

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish

Fellow

Nicholas Hopton

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia Iran

Millennium fellow

Courtney McCraw Bigelow

Partner, Global Clients, Edelman

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business Media
Load More

Events

Public Event Tue, January 6, 2026 • 1:00 pm ET

Belgium’s foreign minister on the next chapter of transatlantic affairs
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Public Event Wed, January 7, 2026 • 9:30 am ET

The future of humanitarian assistance
Africa Americas Freedom and Prosperity Middle East
Public Event Thu, January 8, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Cosmic coordination: Space diplomacy in an era of strategic competition
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Space
Load More