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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China is ready to ‘eat bitterness’ in the trade war. What about the US?

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
China is ready to ‘eat bitterness’ in the trade war. What about the US?

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
China is ready to ‘eat bitterness’ in the trade war. What about the US?

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

New Atlanticist

Apr 10, 2025

China is ready to ‘eat bitterness’ in the trade war. What about the US?

By Dexter Tiff Roberts

As the US imposes a 145 percent tariff on Chinese imports, officials in Beijing are turning to a belief that Chinese people will endure hardships in service of a national goal.

China Economy & Business

Fast Thinking

Apr 10, 2025

What to expect as Trump’s trade war zeroes in on China

By Atlantic Council

On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced that he would suspend many of his “liberation day” import tariffs—but he raised the tariff on China to 145 percent.

China Economy & Business

MENASource

Apr 10, 2025

No, Iran didn’t abandon the Houthis. It just wants Trump to think so. 

By Fatima Abo Alasrar

Instead of interpreting Iran's narrative shift as a break from the Houthis, we might see it as tactical storytelling. And the story's working.

Defense Policy Iran

MENASource

Apr 9, 2025

Why it’s time to terminate the UN’s dysfunctional mission in Western Sahara

By Sarah Zaaimi

Only way out of fifty-year colonial impasse may be outside the United Nations and its legacy of failure for the Sahraoui people.

International Norms International Organizations

Op-Ed

Apr 9, 2025

Ullman in the Hill on the response to President Trump’s tariff policy 

On April 7, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill on the domestic and international reaction to the tariffs announced by the Trump administration on April 2. He argues that a more methodical approach to implementing President Trump’s trade agenda might have achieved the administration’s desired results “without the extreme […]

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Apr 8, 2025

Russia’s endless ceasefire excuses are proof that Putin does not want peace

By Peter Dickinson

Russia’s endless ceasefire excuses are proof that Vladimir Putin does not want peace and remains committed to the complete destruction of Ukraine as a state and as a nation, writes Peter Dickinson.

Disinformation Elections

Inflection Points Today

Apr 8, 2025

‘How did things ever get so far? It was so unfortunate, so unnecessary.’

By Frederick Kempe

As a global trade war heats up, The Godfather films offer a way to think about US President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy and the market fallout that has resulted.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2025

The EU could respond to Trump’s tariffs with a new ‘anti-coercion instrument.’ Here’s what to know.

By Erik Brattberg, Jacopo Pastorelli, and Benjamin Schwab

Confronted with the latest round of US tariffs, the European Union is considering a new but untested tool in its economic-security toolbox.

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Apr 8, 2025

Michta in Lithuanian National Radio and Television on the necessity of US-European cooperation on defense 

On April 4, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was interviewed by Lithuanian National Radio and Television on the status of transatlantic relations, NATO, and European defense as the Trump administration challenges the status quo. He argues that close relations between Washington and Brussels are vital to preserving European security and countering Russian […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

MENASource

Apr 8, 2025

Legalizing child marriage in Iraq: Stepping back from the brink

By Sareta Ashraph

While there have been some elements of relief that the Iraq parliament has pulled back from legalizing child marriage, the situation remains dynamic.

Iraq Middle East
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Experts

Staff

Uliana Certan

Assistant Director, European Engagement

Global Energy Center

Democratic Transitions Energy & Environment

Board director

Ahmed Charai

Board Member

International Norms Media

Advisory Council member

Laura Chinchilla

Former President, Costa Rica

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Central America Economy & Business

Fellow

Sungmin Cho

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Fellow

Victoria Chonn-Ching

Nonresident Fellow

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Americas China

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Janusz Cieszynski

Member of Parliament, Poland

Millennium Leadership Program

Eastern Europe Politics & Diplomacy
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Events

Public Event Mon, April 27, 2026 • 2:30 pm ET

The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Syria
Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy