2019: A year in the world

MENASource Aug 25, 2024

After a failed attack, Hezbollah’s propaganda seeks to prevent a wider war with Israel

By David Daoud

Committed as Hezbollah is to saving its Gaza-based allies, the group does not currently want a full war with Israel.
Conflict Israel
2019: A year in the world

New Atlanticist Aug 21, 2024

How quickly can Taiwan integrate US weapon systems? Speed is essential to help deter China.

By Adam Kozloski

To better prepare Taiwan to defend itself, the United States needs more transparency into Taipei’s weapons integration challenges.
Conflict Defense Policy
2019: A year in the world

UkraineAlert Aug 21, 2024

Invasion? What invasion? Putin is downplaying Ukraine’s Kursk offensive

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin’s efforts to downplay Ukraine’s invasion of Russia have severely dented his strongman image and make a mockery of the West’s escalation fears, writes Peter Dickinson.
Conflict Defense Policy

Programs

The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Dec 23, 2019

2019: A year in the world

By Om Arvind and David A. Wemer

2019 was a year full of diplomatic breakthroughs, dramatic elections, and daunting new challenges on the global stage. Here is a look back at the biggest moments of 2019 and what our Atlantic Council experts had to say about them:

Africa
Americas

New Atlanticist

Dec 23, 2019

The Korea conundrum

By Robert A. Manning, Patrick O’Reilly

Imminent missile, and possibly nuclear, tests will heighten tensions and war fears on the Korean Peninsula. To keep Pyongyang’s capabilities in perspective, this graphic, updated as developments warrant, shows that North Korea still has additional work to do before it has a reliable, operational ICBM that can reach the United States.

Korea
Nuclear Nonproliferation

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dec 22, 2019

Six reasons for an optimistic 2020

By Frederick Kempe

Tis the season to be gloomy, when the world’s prognosticators provide their competing lists of the coming year’s top risks. And there are plenty of candidates, from Iran to North Korea, and from American elections to global warming. But acting on the advice of Winston Churchill, here are six sources of optimism for 2020.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Conflict

MENASource

Dec 20, 2019

Staff cuts at US embassy Baghdad will not counter Iran

By Thomas S. Warrick

The planned US staffing cuts at the embassy in Baghdad is likely to undermine US efforts to counter Iran and will leave a gap Iran is happy to continue to fill through economic, security, and political means.

Iraq
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2019

Top ten risks of 2020

By Robert A. Manning, Mathew Burrows

2020 will likely bear more resemblance to the 1930s, as some of the developments which did not reach a denouement in the past year cross the finish line. Several simmering conflicts, symptoms of a global system under strain from US President Donald J. Trump’s “anti-globalist” America First doctrine, could well reach breakpoints in 2020. This may include a shift from the mere corroding of multilateral institutions and US alliances toward total dysfunction.

China
International Norms

UkraineAlert

Dec 19, 2019

Putin’s imperial ambitions mean Ukraine must learn to live with frozen conflict

By Taras Kuzio

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy says he will make painful concessions to achieve peace with Russia, but Putin's vision of Ukraine as part of Russia's historic heartlands means there is little room for compromise.

Conflict
Geopolitics & Energy Security
The complete destruction in Syria

SyriaSource

Dec 18, 2019

Hof’s analysis of Susan Rice’s Syria comments

By Frederic C. Hof

Former national security advisor, Susan Rice, recently wrote an op-ed lamenting the lack of options in solving the Syrian crisis, much like Samantha Powers, however, their arguments do not hold up against scrutiny.

Politics & Diplomacy
Security & Defense

UkraineAlert

Dec 17, 2019

Paris impasse: Time for Zelenskyy to get real about Russia

By Oleksiy Goncharenko

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's long-awaited first meeting with Vladimir Putin failed to provide a breakthrough towards peace, leading to calls for more realism in relations with Russia.

Conflict
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding
Algerians protest election results

MENASource

Dec 17, 2019

Algerian election and legitimacy: Impossibility of change

By Karim Mezran and Alessia Melcangi

The Algerian election lacks legitimacy and the military and political elite are using elections to foster an image of legitimacy which doesn't exist.

Libya
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2019

Haftar closes in on Tripoli: Where is the international community?

By David A. Wemer

General Khalifa Haftar’s threat to advance his troops further into the capital of Tripoli proves that for the rebel Libyan commander, “there is only a military solution,” to the conflict between his forces and the United Nations-recognized Government of National Accord, according to Atlantic Council resident senior fellow Karim Mezran.

Conflict
Libya
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Experts

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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

Tobias Ellwood

Distinguished Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Fellow

Caroline Zier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Security & Defense

Fellow

Ben Wolfson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

National Security Technology & Innovation

Expert

Gregory Waters

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Democratic Transitions Middle East
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Belgium’s foreign minister on the next chapter of transatlantic affairs
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
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Cosmic coordination: Space diplomacy in an era of strategic competition
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