Before striking Iran, Trump should answer these six questions

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
Before striking Iran, Trump should answer these six questions

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
Before striking Iran, Trump should answer these six questions

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

Dispatches

Feb 19, 2026

Before striking Iran, Trump should answer these six questions

By Nate Swanson

As negotiations falter, a new conflict looks increasingly likely. Asking the right questions now can prevent problems later on.

Conflict
Iran

Dispatches

Feb 19, 2026

Can Europe finally deliver on competitiveness?

By Charles Lichfield

A recent informal leaders’ meeting in Limburg, Belgium, offers clues as to how the European Union might address its competitiveness shortcomings.

Economy & Business
European Union

UkraineAlert

Feb 19, 2026

As Russian battlefield losses mount, Putin is turning to Africa for soldiers

By Katherine Spencer

Russia’s growing reliance on African recruits to continue the war in Ukraine is a powerful symbol of an invasion that has gone horribly wrong for Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, writes Katherine Spencer.

Africa
Conflict
ACFP-Trade-feature

Podcast

Feb 19, 2026

Inside the Trump trade strategy with USTR’s Jamieson Greer

By the Atlantic Council

An AC Front Page conversation with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Economy & Business
Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Feb 18, 2026

Israel needs a fundamental shift in its foreign policy

By Amir Asmar

Israel's international standing has been tarnished by its conduct in Gaza, but the apparent end of the war presents a unique moment for reexamination.

Conflict
International Norms

Russia Tomorrow

Feb 18, 2026

Negotiating with Putin’s Russia

By Donald N. Jensen, Iuliia Osmolovska

The latest report in the Atlantic Council's Russia Tomorrow examines Russia’s negotiating tactics and how the US can adjust its diplomatic strategies in turn.

Disinformation
Eastern Europe

Dispatches

Feb 17, 2026

Dispatch from Munich: Pursuing Middle East integration during a time of upheaval

By Allison Minor

The next year will provide an important opportunity to channel changes across the Middle East toward greater integration and stability.

Middle East
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

UkraineAlert

Feb 17, 2026

A bad Ukraine peace could ignite new wars in Russia’s former empire

By Joseph Epstein

If a settlement in Ukraine frees up Russian military resources without establishing credible deterrents against further Kremlin aggression, Moscow will have the means and the motive to reassert dominance elsewhere in its former empire, writes Joseph Epstein.

Central Asia
European Union

Inflection Points

Feb 17, 2026

Dispatch from Munich: Europe is growing stronger, but will it be fast enough to save Ukraine?

By Frederick Kempe

The recent Munich Security Conference underscored the urgency with which European nations must act to address their vulnerabilities.

European Union
NATO

Dispatches

Feb 16, 2026

The promise and peril of Trump’s Board of Peace

By Eric Alter

The inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump’s initiative to manage the post-conflict reconstruction of Gaza takes place on February 19.

Conflict
Middle East
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Experts

Millennium fellow

Fatima Abbas

Director of Tribal and Native Affairs, Department of Treasury

Millennium Leadership Program

Politics & Diplomacy Rule of Law

Fellow

Nasredeen Abdulbari

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Africa Arabic

Fellow

Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley

Distinguished Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Middle East National Security

Fellow

Ahmed Aboudouh

Former Nonresident Fellow

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

Arabic China

Fellow

Gbemisola Abudu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business

Staff

Aalaa Abuzaakouk

Deputy Director, Millennium Leadership Program

Millennium Leadership Program

Arabic Civil Society
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Events

Public Event Mon, February 23, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

POSTPONED—The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Syria