All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2016

Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama: Enlargement a Secondary Priority for the European Union

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leader says Europe preoccupied with economic, security, and migration crises A combination of economic, security, and migration challenges facing Europe could “fuel instability in the Western Balkans” and “bring more uncertainty to the south and east,” Albania’s Prime Minister, Edi Rama, said on April 13. Rama contended that Balkan states such as Albania—eager to deepen […]

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2016

Poland’s President Seeks Stronger NATO Presence in Europe’s East

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘Real deterrence means real presence,’ says Polish President Andrzej Duda Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, wants an enhanced NATO presence—in the form of troops as well as infrastructure—in Central and Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression, but said his government does not want to isolate Russia or return to the Cold War. Noting Russia’s military buildup […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Mar 28, 2016

Belgium Seeks More Action on Intelligence Shared Among European Nations

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘That is a weak spot for some,’ says Johan Verbeke, Belgium’s Ambassador to the United States European nations need to do a better job of working together to detect, share, and act on intelligence related to terrorist plots, according to Johan Verbeke, Belgium’s Ambassador to the United States. “There is information that we share with […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2016

On Brussels Bombings: ‘The Moment Has Come When We Need to Act,’ says Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Kosovo’s President, Atifete Jahjaga, has called on governments in countries facing the threat of Islamic terrorism to set aside political differences and ramp up intelligence sharing and cooperation with their neighbors. “The moment has come when we need to act,” Jahjaga said in an interview on March 23. Jahjaga spoke on a visit to the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2016

Don’t Forget Greece

By Marten van Heuven

European leaders hope to finalize a deal with Turkey designed to stem the flow of migrants into the European Union. A key element of the deal is a provision for Turkey to take back all new migrants who illegally enter Greece from Turkey. Turkey has exacted a steep price: visa-free access for Turkish citizens into […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2016

Turkey’s Demands Could Destroy Migrant Deal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell predicts political opposition in Europe A preliminary deal struck between the European Union and Turkey to shut Europe’s backdoor to migrants fleeing across the Aegean Sea could likely crumble under the burden of Turkey’s demands, said the Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell. “There are a whole bunch of questions about this deal […]

European Union International Organizations

Bremain vs Brexit

Mar 2, 2016

‘Not the Time for Divisions in Europe’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former European Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, warns against Brexit as Europe faces challenges on its eastern and southern flanks The last thing that Europe needs as it grapples with challenges on its eastern and southern flanks is for the United Kingdom to walk out of the European Union, said José Manuel Barroso, a former […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Bremain vs Brexit

Feb 25, 2016

Migrant Crisis, Brexit Distracting EU from Enlargement, Says Albania’s Foreign Minister

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The migrant crisis and the debate over the United Kingdom’s future in the European Union have shifted focus away from the enlargement of the bloc and this could disrupt the process of building democratic future member states, Albania’s Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said on February 25. “Unfortunately, the migrant crisis, coupled with other crises that […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 16, 2016

Raising the Price for Putin

By Evelyn Farkas

Russia poses a geostrategic threat to the United States and our interests. Indeed, earlier this month Defense Secretary Ash Carter listed it first among the threats faced by our nation.  It is unfortunate that in the twenty-first century Russia and the United States remain opposed to one another on most foreign policy issues. The reality […]

National Security Russia

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2015

Poland’s Right Turn

By Michał Kobosko

Poland’s domestic political scene experienced a major shake-up after the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), crushed the ruling Civic Platform (PO)-led coalition in the parliamentary election on Oct. 25. According to late exit polls, PiS will gain no less than 37 percent of the vote, while PO will get just 23 percent. A […]

Poland