Central Europe

Three decades since the end of the Cold War, twenty years since NATO’s first enlargement beyond the Iron Curtain, and fifteen years since European Union and NATO accession, the states of Central Europe remain full and active members of both organizations, and they are key players in the transatlantic community. Foreign influence from Russia and China, concerns over regional adherence to the rule of law, and economic insecurity require continued and renewed US engagement.

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FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Polish prime minister urges allies to beef up Cybersecurity budgets

Report
Nov 10, 2025

Czechia’s policy on China: Swinging between engagement and de-risking

By
Zoltán Fehér

Although Czechia emerged as one of the EU’s early hawks and whistleblowers on China, its overall stance has shifted markedly over the past two decades—oscillating between engagement and balancing, with the fluctuations largely driven by domestic political divisions and sustained Chinese influence efforts.

Central Europe
China

Polish prime minister urges allies to beef up Cybersecurity budgets

New Atlanticist
Nov 4, 2025

Trump has an opportunity to unblock Ukraine’s EU accession in his meeting with Orbán

By
James Batchik

Getting Hungary to drop its opposition to Ukraine’s European Union accession would be a strategic coup for Ukraine, Europe, and Washington.

Conflict
Eurozone

Polish prime minister urges allies to beef up Cybersecurity budgets

Issue Brief
Mar 14, 2025

The Three Seas Initiative stands at an inflection point

By
Emma Nix, Ian Brzezinski

The Three Seas Initiative is preparing for a critical summit in Warsaw in 2025. What opportunities exist to ensure the Initiative can accomplish its goal of ensuring a Europe whole, free, secure, and at peace?

Central Europe
Economy & Business

Program

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2019

Polish prime minister urges allies to beef up Cybersecurity budgets

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Polish prime minister said it is crucial to grasp the importance of the threat in cyberspace.

Cybersecurity Poland

UkraineAlert

Jan 4, 2019

Putin’s Grand Energy Strategy Is More Ambitious than You Think

By Stephen Blank

Energy politics are critical in Russia’s long war on the West and Ukraine. Indeed, energy functions as a Swiss army knife for Moscow, cutting simultaneously in several directions. Energy provides the basis for the revenue stream that enables all government operations, comprises a ready source of constant corruption of European elites and institutions, and furnishes […]

Hungary Russia

Issue Brief

Dec 13, 2018

Permanent deterrence: Enhancements to the US military presence in north central Europe

By General Philip Breedlove, Ambassador Alexander Vershbow

The United States and NATO have taken significant steps since 2014 to enhance their force posture and respond to provocative Russian behavior. But more needs to be done.

Central Europe Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Dec 2, 2018

George H.W. Bush: the right man at the right time

By Daniel Fried

Ahead of almost the entire US foreign policy establishment, Bush bet on freedom, one of the great calls of US Cold War policy. He showed prudence and restraint in his tactics, but deployed these qualities in the service of strategic US interests and its deeper values, which he understood were indivisible.

Democratic Transitions Poland

Transcript

Dec 1, 2018

Damon Wilson: US Must ‘Keep Our Allies as Our Allies’

By Damon Wilson

Twenty Seventh Annual Mikulás Dinner Remarks by Damon M. Wilson Executive Vice President, Atlantic Council Embassy of Hungary, Washington November 30, 2018

Hungary

EnergySource

Nov 7, 2018

The Three Seas Initiative: The way forward

By Fanni Virág

Last month, the third Summit of the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) came to a successful close in Bucharest. The gathering, hosted by Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, brought together leaders from Europe and the United States to present regional government-approved projects and concrete progress in the integration of 3SI’s framework, which aims to improve interconnectivity in […]

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Transcript

Oct 19, 2018

Winning the Competition for Influence in Central and Eastern Europe: US Assistant Secretary of State A. Wess Mitchell

By Atlantic Council

“Winning the Competition for Influence in Central and Eastern Europe”

Central Europe Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Oct 19, 2018

State department official sounds warning on Russian, Chinese influence in Central and Eastern Europe

By David A. Wemer

“We must not see it as a foregone conclusion that countries will automatically remain friendly to America,” said A Wess Michell, assistant secretary for the US State Department Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

EnergySource

Oct 17, 2018

Poland’s role in Energy Bridge and regional energy security

By Melissa Hersh and Edward Kee

The following is the third installment in a three-part series on the proposed Energy Bridge project, an energy development and regional energy interconnection initiative for Ukraine and its neighbors. In Part 1 of this series, we described the Energy Bridge project and why it is an important initiative for Ukraine. In Part 2 of the series, […]

Central Europe Energy Markets & Governance

UkraineAlert

Sep 26, 2018

Ukraine’s Golden Opportunity to Integrate with Europe That Everyone Has Overlooked

By Stephen Blank

Ukraine’s European aspirations are irreversible. A majority of the public supports NATO membership, and EU membership has long enjoyed popular support. However, wishing for integration does not make it happen. In both instances, Ukraine’s passage toward eligibility will be long and arduous. Nevertheless, opportunities are currently opening up for Ukraine to integrate with its European […]

Central Europe Hungary
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Experts

Givi Gigitashvili

Staff

Givi Gigitashvili

Research Associate, Caucasus

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Conflict Disinformation

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Hristijan Gjorgievski

Chief of Party, Malawi, Parliamentary Support Program

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Millennium fellow

Tara Hariharan

Managing Director, Global Macro Research, NWI Management LP

Millennium Leadership Program

Americas Central Europe

Fellow

Tony Housh

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Danuta Hübner

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

Fellow

Markus Jaeger

Senior Advisor

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Central Europe Economy & Business
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Events

Public Event Mon, March 30, 2026 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: How the West lost the post-Cold War era
Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy