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Featured Reading

Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

Do Trump’s criticisms of Putin mark a turning point in his Russia policy?

By John E. Herbst

On Sunday, the US president called his Russian counterpart “crazy” on social media, revealing an increasing impatience with Russia over its unwillingness to engage in US-led cease-fire talks.
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy
Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

Report May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

Issue Brief Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

featured events

Online Event Thu, March 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The future of EU defense

Following the release of the European Union’s whitepaper on the future of European defense, an expert panel unpacks what role the EU should play in transatlantic security.
Europe & Eurasia European Union NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Tue, February 18, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

How long can Russia sustain its aggression in Ukraine?

The Eurasia Center discusses how the confluence of Russia’s war of attrition, economic decline, and energy damage impact the Russian Federation and its global standing.
Conflict Economic Sanctions Europe & Eurasia International Markets

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

Unpacking Russia’s cyber nesting doll

by Justin Sherman

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores Russia’s wartime cyber operations and broader cyber web.

In-depth Research & reports

Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

Report Mar 3, 2025

The art of the transatlantic deal

By Frances Burwell

The transatlantic relationship is shifting with US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Nevertheless, discreet deals across the US-EU trade, energy, and defense sectors are possible.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

Russia Tomorrow Dec 17, 2024

The reluctant consensus: War and Russia’s public opinion

By Maria Snegovaya

A new Atlantic Council report explores Russian society’s consolidation around the Kremlin and the Russian public’s perception of Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Civil Society Europe & Eurasia

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

The Atlantic Council in Turkey aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and defense.

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

BelarusAlert

Dec 22, 2021

Putin’s nuclear blackmail in Belarus

By Brian Whitmore

The prospect of a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine is very real, and arguably very likely. And the prospect of Russian nuclear weapons in Alyaksandr Lukashenka's Belarus also no longer seems far-fetched.

Arms Control Belarus

In the News

Dec 22, 2021

Kroenig in Strategic Studies Quarterly on emerging technology and nuclear stability

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center Deputy Director Matthew Kroenig writes on the impact of new technology on strategic stability.

Arms Control China

In the News

Dec 22, 2021

Katz quoted in Svoboda on US negotiations with Russia

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy International Norms

Report

Dec 22, 2021

Seizing the advantage: A vision for the next US national defense strategy

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels, Tyson Wetzel, Christian Trotti

In this latest installment of the Atlantic Council Strategy Papers series, Forward Defense’s Clementine Starling, Lt Col Tyson Wetzel, and Christian Trotti articulate their vision and recommendations for the next US National Defense Strategy, including clearer prioritization, investments and divestments, reposturing of US forces, a new warfighting concept, and a focus on transnational threats like hybrid warfare and climate change.

China Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Dec 21, 2021

The NATO-Russia standoff could redefine the transatlantic relationship

By Andrew R. Marshall

The outcome of this dispute could rewrite the terms of security on the European continent for an entire generation.

Crisis Management Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Dec 21, 2021

Cooper in Breaking Defense on deterrence during Great Power Competition

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Scott Cooper writes on the importance of air power to deterrence in the context of great power competition with Russia and China.

China Conflict

UkraineAlert

Dec 21, 2021

A Russian invasion of Ukraine could be Vladimir Putin’s downfall

By Taras Kuzio

Russian President Vladimir Putin is currently threatening to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine but his plans do not appear to enjoy widespread support among the Russian public and could destabilize the regime.

Conflict Cybersecurity

In the News

Dec 21, 2021

Temnycky in New Eastern Europe: Time to get tough on Russia

By Atlantic Council

Ukraine

BelarusAlert

Dec 21, 2021

Documentary captures dramatic fight for democracy in Belarus

By Diane Francis

Powerful documentary film “Courage” aptly portrays the ongoing tragedy of Belarus and the recent attempt by its people to overthrow their repressive dictatorship and embrace a more democratic form of government.

Belarus Civil Society
President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of China Xi Jinping look on during a signing ceremony.

Report

Dec 21, 2021

Axis of collusion: The fragile Putin-Xi partnership

By Harley Balzer

The close relationship between the leaders of Russia and China drives what many think is a developing Sino-Russian alliance, but tensions over deep issues remain. Just how close are these great powers?

Central Asia China
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Experts

Fellow

Agon Maliqi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Albanian Bosnian

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Head of Cabinet for Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jeffrey Hovenier

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Croatian Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Nathan Freier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

William B. Taylor

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

English Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Lukasz Lisicki

Policy Assistant to the Director-General for Energy, European Commission

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Energy & Environment
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Events

Online Event Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs
Online Event Mon, July 14, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: Russia’s future rulers
Corruption Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Populism
Online Event Wed, July 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Digital occupation: Inside Russia’s Telegram battle in Ukraine
Conflict Disinformation Europe & Eurasia Russia
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