Europe & Eurasia

Europe & Eurasia

Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the mountains of Central Asia, the European and Eurasian landmass contains both some of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world, as well as some of the poorest and those led by repressive regimes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022 has transformed the region’s security and launched economic, political, and defense issues into the global limelight, emphasizing the necessity of increased regional and transatlantic cooperation.

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Featured Reading

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Dispatches
May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By
Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn’t stop Washington’s other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe
Europe & Eurasia

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series
May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By
the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council’s Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland
Northern Europe

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Issue Brief
May 8, 2026

Can Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship survive?

By
Phyllis Berry

One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz heads a government beset by economic stagnation, low public approval, and coalition tensions.

Economy & Business
Elections

featured events

Public Event
Fri, April 17, 2026 • 11:45 am ET

The British ambassador to the US on Euro-Atlantic security and the Middle East

British Ambassador to the United States Sir Christian Turner joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the UK’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and its vision for the future of Euro-Atlantic security cooperation.

Europe & Eurasia
Iran
Middle East
NATO


Public Event
Wed, November 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Intent to destroy: Confronting Russia’s campaign to erase Ukraine and its people

In this conference hosted by the Strategic Litigation Project and the Eurasia Center, experts will identify strategies to halt Russia’s campaign of atrocities against the Ukrainian people.

Civil Society
Conflict
Crisis Management
Security & Defense


The Russia Tomorrow series

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 challenged much of the common Western understanding of Russia. How can the world better understand Russia? What are the steps forward for Western policy? The Eurasia Center’s new “Russia Tomorrow” series seeks to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow.

Read More

Russia Tomorrow

The CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

by Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners–united not by shared values, but by shared grievances–on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In-depth Research & reports

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Russia Tomorrow
Dec 12, 2025

The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization 

By
Elina Ribakova, Lucas Risinger

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Russian wartime economy.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

Report
Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By
Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

programs

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

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Explore the Power Vertical podcast

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Explore the Debrief series

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series


#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Content

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, Jan. 23, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 11, 2015

Foreign Minister Calls in Russian Envoy Over ‘Threats’ About Sweden Joining NATO

By Reuters and Local (Sweden)

From Johan Sennero, Reuters:  Sweden has called in Russia’s ambassador to explain comments by a foreign ministry spokeswoman who said any Swedish decision to join NATO would have “consequences” that would compel Russia to respond.

NATO Northern Europe
NATO's first unmanned air vehicle, June 4, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 11, 2015

NATO Caught ‘Surprised’ By Russia’s Move Into Syria

By Kevin Baron, Defense News

When Russia sent military forces into Syria last weekend, it caught NATO by surprise and proved that its members can neither stay ahead of threats nor even decide which ones are the most pressing, the alliance’s intelligence director said.

Intelligence NATO

In the News

Sep 11, 2015

Stein on Civil Conflict in Turkey

By Aaron Stein

Al Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the violence between the PKK and Turkish army:

Turkey

In the News

Sep 10, 2015

Polyakova on NATO’s Russia Concerns

By Atlantic Council

Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova on NATO’s growing concerns as Russia builds a military base near Ukraine: 

NATO Russia

Issue Brief

Sep 10, 2015

Energy sanctions and Russia: What comes next?

By Adnan Vatansever

The West has responded to the Kremlin's increasingly bellicose policy in the former Soviet space by imposing punitive measures against Russia's energy sector. The immediate impact of such measures appears limited as neither oil nor gas flowing from Russia is expected to suffer right away. However, the sanctions' long-term implications may prove more important.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

SyriaSource

Sep 10, 2015

Obama’s Failure to Stop Assad Contributes to Refugee Crisis

By Frederic C. Hof

The following is an excerpt from an article by Frederic Hof, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, originally published by Foreign Policy on September 9, 2015.

Iran Russia
Deputy defense ministers of Norway, USA, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland, Sept. 8, 2015

NATOSource

Sep 10, 2015

Russia Concerns Prompt First-Ever US, Nordic Deputy Defense Ministers’ Meeting

By Christopher P. Cavas, Defense News

US Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work wrapped up the first-ever meeting of Nordic and US deputy defense ministers, proclaiming the discussions a success, with a number of staffers calling the talks better than expected.

NATO Northern Europe

MENASource

Sep 10, 2015

The implications of violent conflict between the PKK and the Turkish Republic

By Aaron Stein

Members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) killed two police officers in Urfa on July 22, purportedly in retaliation for an Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) inspired suicide bombing of a leftist meeting in the border town of Suruç. In response, Turkey struck PKK bases in Iraqi Kurdistan and southeastern Turkey. This prompted a sharp […]

Syria Turkey
Russian President Vladimir Putin, June 12, 2012

NATOSource

Sep 9, 2015

Putin Allies Aided Russian Mafia in Spain, Prosecutors Say

By Esteban Duarte and Henry Meyer, Bloomberg News

Some of Vladimir Putin’s closest allies, including the chairman of OAO Gazprom, a deputy premier and two former ministers, helped one of Russia’s largest criminal groups operate out of Spain for more than a decade, prosecutors in Madrid say.

NATO Russia
Syrian President Bashar Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Jan. 25, 2005

NATOSource

Sep 9, 2015

Russian Troops Join Combat in Syria – Sources

By Reuters

Russian forces have begun participating in military operations in Syria in support of government troops, three Lebanese sources familiar with the political and military situation there said on Wednesday.

NATO Russia
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Experts

Staff

Iryna Adam

Research Associate

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Eastern Europe English

Fellow

Paul Adamson

Senior Advisor

Europe Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Raul Alcaide Alonso

Vice President, Goldman Sachs

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Economy & Business

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation
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Events

Public Event Wed, June 17, 2026 • 3:30 pm ET

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—The Atlantic Council is hosting Senators Shaheen and Tillis for a conversation on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Thu, June 18, 2026 • 12:00 pm ET

Is Russia losing the war?
Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Russia
Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union