The post-COVID world this week: The Wuhan lab-leak theory and the new way we’re paying for our pandemic purchases

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
The post-COVID world this week: The Wuhan lab-leak theory and the new way we’re paying for our pandemic purchases

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
The post-COVID world this week: The Wuhan lab-leak theory and the new way we’re paying for our pandemic purchases

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

The future is here

Jun 4, 2021

The post-COVID world this week: The Wuhan lab-leak theory and the new way we’re paying for our pandemic purchases

By Andrew R. Marshall

What can we expect from a post-COVID world after a pandemic that has reshaped international affairs? A world in which we may still be paying off our pandemic era purchases.

Coronavirus Education

Issue Brief

Jun 4, 2021

Syrian lives in peril: The fight to preserve Syria’s last humanitarian border crossing

By Salman Husain, Yasmine Chawaf

A new Atlantic Council report, “Syrian Lives in Peril: The Fight to Preserve Syria’s Last Humanitarian Border Crossing,” places humanitarian considerations at the forefront of the cross-border debate. In addition to examining the devastating impacts of losing Bab al-Hawa, this report explores the limitations of cross-line operations (from government-held areas of Syria to areas outside of its control), which are presented as feasible alternatives.

Middle East Migration

Britain Debrief

Jun 4, 2021

#BritainDebrief – How can Britain support Biden’s war on kleptocracy? A debrief from Nate Sibley

By Ben Judah

For this #BritainDebrief, Hudson Institute research fellow Nate Sibley outlines the state of play on US anti-corruption policy and what role Britain can play in that effort.

Corruption Politics & Diplomacy

MENASource

Jun 4, 2021

Libya’s fragile ceasefire: A lost opportunity?

By Wolfgang Pusztai

On April 16, the United Nations Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2570, approving arrangements for a ceasefire monitoring mechanism and the deployment of UN monitors. But will a sixty-person team be sufficient to prevent the renewed outbreak of hostilities in this deeply split country?

Libya Middle East

Event Recap

Jun 3, 2021

Event recap: “Kabul and a peace process divided”

By Atlantic Council

On June 1, 2021, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center hosted former Afghan Minister of the Economy and current Special Representative & Senior Advisor at the High Council for National Reconciliation (HCNR) Dr M. Mustafa Mastoor and South Asia Center non-resident senior fellows Ambassador Omar Samad and Dr Nilofar Sakhi for a substantive conversation on developments in Kabul related to the ongoing peace process.

Afghanistan Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist

Jun 3, 2021

China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

By John R. Deni

In not emphasizing threats from China in the DDA, the Alliance comes up short. China isn’t some challenge of tomorrow or threat that has yet to fully form; even today, it is a clear and present threat to allied security in Europe and beyond.

China Europe & Eurasia

IranSource

Jun 3, 2021

Iran just lost one of its largest ships. It’s a major embarrassment.

By Robert Czulda

In the early hours of June 2, the venerable Iranian supply ship Kharg caught fire and sank in the Gulf of Oman. The loss is a major setback for the Islamic Republic, exposing not only the poor readiness of the Iranian armed forces, but also the lethality of Iran’s military equipment to its own soldiers.

Iran Middle East

SouthAsiaSource

Jun 3, 2021

Reforming local governments in Pakistan

By Atlantic Council

Please join the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center and South Asia Democracy Watch on Monday, June 14 at 10:00 AM EST / 7:00 PM PKT for a conversation on the importance of local government institutions to improve governance in Pakistan.

Pakistan Political Reform

In the News

Jun 3, 2021

Lipner and Wechsler in the Washington Post: The new Israeli government should turn the page on Netanyahu’s destructive approach to Washington

By Atlantic Council

"The rejection of Netanyahu, after all, must also be a rejection of the toxic partisanship of the U.S.-Israel relationship that reached a crescendo during his tenure," write Shalom Lipner and William Wechsler in The Washington Post.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Jun 3, 2021

Algeria’s parliamentary elections: A bumpy road ahead

By Abdelkader Abderrahmane

While the coronavirus pandemic put on hold the Hirak movement, its resumption in February this year indicates that many Algerians have not renounced challenging the Algerian government.

Elections Middle East
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Experts

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

Alan Pino

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Intelligence Iran

Fellow

William B. Taylor

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Geoffrey Pyatt

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia
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Events

Online Event Tue, May 13, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Rethinking US policy options in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Economy & Business Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Lucian Kim on “Putin’s Revenge” and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine