All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2020

Experts react: US announces plans for troop withdrawal from Germany

By David A. Wemer

“There may be a strategic case for the withdrawal of almost 12,000 US troops from Germany, but Secretary of Defense Esper’s announcement today does not make it,” Daniel Fried says.

Defense Policy Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2020

What hurts NATO the most is not the troop reductions. It’s the divisive approach to Europe.

By Olivier-Rémy Bel

At the end of the day, the strength of the Alliance lies less in the number of troops deployed than in the trust among allies. Rebuilding that trust should be the main task of those who care about transatlantic relations—and the first step might be restoring the predictability of American foreign policy.

Defense Policy Germany

New Atlanticist

Jul 29, 2020

Western Balkans leaders meet to drive coronavirus recovery and deepen regional economic cooperation

By David A. Wemer

Leaders from the Western Balkans Six—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Serbia—participated in the Western Balkans Partnership Summit on July 29 to take steps to deepen regional economic cooperation and stimulate growth amid the widespread economic downturn caused by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Inclusive Growth International Markets

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2020

Experts react: European leaders reach decisive coronavirus recovery agreement

By Atlantic Council

“The agreement is a historic achievement leading to more solidarity in the European Union to respond the economic fallout of the coronavirus,” Benjamin Haddad says.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2020

Return of the transatlantic privacy war

By Kenneth Propp

In a sweeping judgment on July 16, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) summarily demolished the fragile legal peace that has prevailed for the last four years on the subject of transatlantic data transfers.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2020

US tech wins a round in Apple case at the European Court of Justice

By Kenneth Propp

Apple’s victory in the Irish tax question stands in sharp contrast to a series of defeats that US technology companies including Facebook and Google have suffered at the European Court of Justice in recent years in privacy-related cases.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2020

Duda wins, but must now govern a divided Poland

By Daniel Fried

Duda won his election. He’s the president of a closely divided country. Trzaskowski almost beat him with a message that was inclusive and appealed to many Poles who, demographically and socially, probably represent Poland’s future. It’s now Duda’s move, hopefully to demonstrate that he is a unifying force in Poland.

Elections Poland

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2020

Tying loose ends and asking hard questions: What Germany’s EU presidency can achieve on defense

By Olivier-Rémy Bel

Germany’s challenge will be to tie the loose ends on defense and, building on the groundwork of the previous years, prepare for the future by asking hard questions about where Europe is going on this issue.

Defense Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 7, 2020

Berlin takes over the EU presidency: Lower your expectations

By Jörn Fleck

If Germany achieves a breakthrough on even one of the big-ticket items of its presidency, it is despite the chancellor and its political elites’ legacy of European policy over the last decade. Those betting wisely would do best to lower expectations for a Germany that has yet to have a moment of truth with itself about its role in Europe and the world.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2020

European strategic autonomy and its future trade policy

By Elmar Hellendoorn

Eventual EU efforts to redirect supply chains can ­­affect many business sectors, even those unrelated to traditional security affairs. The geographical location of EU zones of influence may dictate where future supply chains to Europe will run. “Strategic autonomy” is now as important economically as it is politically or militarily.

China European Union