2026 will be a big year in the Western Balkans. Here’s what to watch.

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
2026 will be a big year in the Western Balkans. Here’s what to watch.

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
2026 will be a big year in the Western Balkans. Here’s what to watch.

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

Jan 23, 2026

2026 will be a big year in the Western Balkans. Here’s what to watch.

By Amanda Thorpe, Stuart Jones

In the coming year, Western Balkan countries will increasingly need to assume greater agency in shaping their own trajectories.

Economy & Business
Energy & Environment

Dispatches

Jan 22, 2026

Trump may move on from Greenland. Europe won’t.

By Jörn Fleck, James Batchik

Trump’s willingness to engage in brinkmanship with Europe over Greenland will have a lasting impact on how the continent’s leaders approach relations with Washington.

Conflict
Europe & Eurasia

Dispatches

Jan 22, 2026

To get the Greenland issue right, focus on alignment

By András Simonyi

The task now is not rhetorical escalation, but strategic certainty that secures Greenland and anchors it in the West.

Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Jan 22, 2026

The US is taking action against Russia’s shadow fleet. In the Baltic Sea, Europe should follow suit.

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

European nations should force Russia’s shadow fleet out of the Baltic Sea and help to reshape the maritime legal order.

Maritime Security
Northern Europe

MENASource

Jan 22, 2026

Wang Yi’s MENA tour was long on messaging, short on outcomes

By Jonathan Fulton

Wang worked to position China as a defender of free trade and a reliable partner for the Middle East region.

China
Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fast Thinking

Jan 21, 2026

The future of Greenland and NATO after Trump’s Davos deal

By Atlantic Council

Our experts shed light on Trump’s speech at Davos and what the “framework of a future deal” on Greenland means for transatlantic relations.

Conflict
Europe & Eurasia

Dispatches

Jan 21, 2026

By taking a win on Greenland, Trump set US and allied security in the Arctic on a better path

By Daniel Fried

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the US president pledged not to use force to take Greenland and rescinded planned tariffs against several European allies.

Europe & Eurasia
Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Jan 20, 2026

How Trump’s ‘TRIPP’ triumph can advance US interests in the South Caucasus

By Andrew D’Anieri and Joseph Epstein

The recently announced Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity promises to become a vital connectivity link between Europe and Asia.

Iran
Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Jan 20, 2026

What to watch in Guatemala’s year of institutional reset

By Henrique Arevalo Poincot

With several important leadership positions scheduled to see changes, 2026 may be the year that Guatemala takes back its captured institutions.

Central America
Corruption

Inflection Points

Jan 20, 2026

At Davos, Trump’s 19th-century instincts will collide with 21st-century uncertainty

By Frederick Kempe

The Greenland dispute has turned the World Economic Forum in Davos into the epicenter of transatlantic discord.

Conflict
Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Deng Liu

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

China East Asia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Helene-Terese Jürgenson

E-Construction Services Project Manager, Estonian Ministry of Climate

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Northern Europe

Fellow

Eric V. Guichard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Corruption

Advisory Council member

Clifford Sobel

Former United States Ambassador to Brazil

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business

Staff

Uliana Certan

Assistant Director, European Engagement

Global Energy Center

Democratic Transitions Energy & Environment

Millennium fellow

Cristián Stewart Claro

Executive Director, IdeaPaís

Millennium Leadership Program

Civil Society Education
Load More

Events

Public Event Tue, February 10, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2036: What will the next decade bring?
China Economy & Business Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
Online Event Thu, February 12, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Iraq’s economic agenda for the next government
Economy & Business Elections Iraq Middle East