Politics & Diplomacy

Politics & Diplomacy

Healthy democratic societies are governed through the holding of elections, passage of policies through government institutions, and equal application of the law to all citizens. These activities influence not only the internal decisions of these societies, but also inform the ways countries interact with their regional and global neighbors, whether through direct bilateral ties or encompassed in larger international organizations.

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Kroenig interviewed on BBC on Iran negotiations

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
Kroenig interviewed on BBC on Iran negotiations

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
Kroenig interviewed on BBC on Iran negotiations

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

In the News

Jun 12, 2026

Kroenig interviewed on BBC on Iran negotiations

By Atlantic Council

On June 11, Atlantic Council vice president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig was interviewed on BBC about ongoing negotiations with Iran.

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

Dispatches

Jun 12, 2026

Seven charts that will define France’s G7 summit

By GeoEconomics Center experts

As world leaders gather in Évian-les-Bains for the Group of Seven summit, issues from energy to artificial intelligence will be on the agenda.

Artificial Intelligence Economy & Business

Balkans Debrief

Jun 12, 2026

Unpacking the new US Western Balkans strategy | A Debrief with Fleck, Piscevic, Zeneli & Thorpe

Resident Senior Fellow Ilva Tare sits down with four Atlantic Council experts to discuss the new US report to Congress on policy toward the Western Balkans.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

MENASource

Jun 11, 2026

The Iran war is a game of liar’s poker

By Khalid Azim

The central question has not simply been who possesses power, but who is willing to absorb pain, tolerate risk, and continue escalating when conventional logic suggests restraint.

Conflict Iran

Fast Thinking

Jun 11, 2026

Is this the end of the Iran war? 

By Atlantic Council

Our experts break down the latest strikes and Trump's announcement of a pending deal to end the conflict.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Jun 10, 2026

From a gap to a chasm: Diverging US and Israeli interests in the war with Iran

By Daniel B. Shapiro

The once-modest gap between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump has widened in recent weeks.

Conflict Iran

Dispatches

Jun 10, 2026

How energy could redefine the US role in the Western Balkans

By Agon Maliqi

A new report from the Trump administration redefines the US goal as effectively being “stability … as a means of pursuing economic cooperation.”

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Jun 9, 2026

How global authoritarians sustain inequality

By Deng Liu

Authoritarian leaders across the world use targeted strategies to sustain inequality. But developing countries should instead pull from a variety of existing development models to create societal prosperity.

East Asia Freedom and Prosperity

Dispatches

Jun 9, 2026

Four questions (and expert answers) about Armenia’s elections and what to expect next

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts look at what Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s victory means for the South Caucasus region and for the US and Russia.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Jun 9, 2026

Countries across Russia’s former empire are reclaiming place names to assert identity

By Joseph Epstein

Ukraine's campaign to strip Soviet and Russian imperial place names from the country’s towns and cities is not a reaction to the current war so much as the leading edge of a region-wide rejection of Moscow's cartography, writes Joseph Epstein.

Central Asia Civil Society
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Experts

Fellow

Nic Adams

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Energy & Environment Middle East

Fellow

Paul Adamson

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Akeel Abbas

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Human Rights

Millennium fellow

Saeed Al Nazari

Secretary General, Great Arab Minds

Millennium Leadership Program

Education Middle East

Fellow

Osamah Al Rawhani

Nonresident Senior Fellow

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

Middle East Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Fellow

Safwan Al-Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English
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Events

Public Event Tue, July 14, 2026 • 3:00 pm ET

Colombia’s government transition and the priorities ahead
Colombia Economy & Business Latin America Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Wed, July 15, 2026 • 1:30 pm ET

2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes launch
Corruption Freedom and Prosperity Inclusive Growth Rule of Law