Content

Issue Brief

Jan 13, 2020

Spotlight: Alejandro Giammattei’s first 100 days

By María Fernanda Bozmoski, Domingo Sadurní

Guatemala will begin a new chapter with the presidential inauguration of Alejandro Giammattei Falla. At the center of the incoming pro-business administration: ushering in a new era of economic growth and job creation. With 59 percent of Guatemalans living in poverty, Central America’s largest and most populous country is also one the poorest and most unequal nations in Latin America.

Central America Latin America

In the News

Jan 13, 2020

Nia and Dagres quoted in NBC on Iran protests

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2020

Trump’s bilateral trade deals are undermining the global trading system

By Hung Tran

Overall, the three early 2020 agreements have started to transform the multilateral rule-based system into a largely bilaterally managed, outcome-based system. RTAs and their new practices accelerate the fragmentation of the world trading system into numerous trading zones with different overlapping memberships and trade coverage, tariffs, quotas, and quantitative trade targets, plus other rules such as local content and country of origin requirements as well as dispute settlement processes.

China European Union

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2020

China’s support for the Maduro regime: Enduring or fleeting?

By Cristina Guevara

As Venezuela’s biggest creditor, China is carrying the burden of Venezuela’s economic collapse. The PRC has become increasingly aware of this unsustainable situation, and, behind closed doors, has been in communications with the interim government. Back in February, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said that China is open to working with a different government to ensure payment for the loans-for-oil deals. Strictly speaking, China’s relationship with the South American country is transactional, not ideological.

China Venezuela

Global Energy Forum

Jan 12, 2020

Election 2020: What’s at stake for energy policy?

By David L. Goldwyn and Andrea Clabough

As the US presidential election in November 2020 draws nearer, the energy policy platforms—including domestic energy, climate change, foreign, and trade policies—from the Democratic candidates, as well as the energy policies of a potential second Trump Administration, have become increasingly clear. The competing visions of a Republican and a Democratic administration could hardly be more disparate, and industry and external stakeholders should prepare for a volatile outlook regardless of the outcome in November 2020—what are the salient energy policies under the two scenarios and how will they address the deep and entrenched energy challenges that face the United States?

Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions

In the News

Jan 12, 2020

Warrick quoted in USA Today on US-Iran conflict

By Atlantic Council

Iran Politics & Diplomacy

Elections 2020

Jan 12, 2020

Will climate change move the needle in 2020?

By David A. Wemer

From the release of the Green New Deal to global protests on environmental policy, “climate [has become] a prominent national issue and all the attention it received in 2019 guarantees that it will be a top issue in an American presidential election for the first time ever,” according to former US Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL).

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Dagres joins Al Jazeera to discuss US-Iran tensions

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

In the News

Jan 11, 2020

Wechsler quoted in StarTribune on US-Iran nuclear weapons proliferation

By Atlantic Council

Iran Middle East

MENASource

Jan 10, 2020

Reverberations from Soleimani death requires vigilance in NYC

By Mitchell Silber and Ioan Pop

NYC has been an iconic target for potential terrorist attacks as it is seen as the ultimate symbol of American power. After Soleimani, it is with high confidence that the threat of retaliation by Hezbollah in New York City is seen as a genuine threat which must be treated with extreme vigilance.

Extremism Intelligence

Experts

Events