FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

#BritainDebrief – Is this economic war with Russia? A Debrief from Edward Fishman

Report Nov 10, 2025

Germany’s policy on China: From win-win to strategic competition

By Valbona Zeneli

Germany’s China policy has shifted from economic optimism to cautious competition—balancing trade interests with mounting security concerns. Once built on deep interdependence, Berlin now prioritizes “de-risking” and resilience in its approach to Beijing.
China Economy & Business
#BritainDebrief – Is this economic war with Russia? A Debrief from Edward Fishman

New Atlanticist Sep 16, 2025

Dispatch from Berlin: To succeed, Merz must resist the false choice of focusing at home or abroad

By Jörn Fleck, Rachel Rizzo

The chancellor’s coalition will have to tackle both Germany’s economic renewal and the threat to European security from Russia.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
#BritainDebrief – Is this economic war with Russia? A Debrief from Edward Fishman

New Atlanticist Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military. 
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Events

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Summit on the Future of Energy Security
Energy & Environment France Germany Italy
Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness
Digital Policy Economy & Business Germany

Program

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

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Content

Britain Debrief

Mar 4, 2022

#BritainDebrief – Is this economic war with Russia? A Debrief from Edward Fishman

By Ben Judah

As a newly-formed anti-invasion coalition forms in the international community and takes increasingly severe economic actions against Russia, Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviewed Edward Fishman, former Russia and Europe Lead in the State Department’s Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation, for #BritainDebrief.

Conflict
Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 2, 2022

Lichfield quoted in CNN Business on Russia’s import substitution policies following western sanctions in 2014

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Mar 1, 2022

Lichfield quoted in NBC news on Germany-Russia relations

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2022

Will Germany’s geopolitical awakening last?

By Roderick Kefferpütz

For Germany’s new government, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a geopolitical baptism by fire.

Crisis Management
Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Mar 1, 2022

Sullivan joins Asharq News to discuss NS2 bankruptcy
Arabic
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

Feb 27, 2022

Experts React: What’s behind Germany’s stunning foreign-policy shift?

By Atlantic Council experts

Our Europe Center experts weigh in on Germany’s about-face on military spending, arming Ukraine, and the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

Conflict
Defense Policy

Inflection Points

Feb 27, 2022

Ukraine has finally prompted the West to shift course on Putin

By Frederick Kempe

The Zelenskyy delegation’s chance to succeed in talks at the Belarus border with a Russian delegation would be far greater if Putin were confident that the West has Ukraine’s back.

Conflict
Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2022

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about what’s happening with Ukraine and Russia

By Atlantic Council experts

As the crisis in Eastern Europe continues to unfold, we tapped our expert network to answer the burning questions about the implications for Russia, Ukraine, and the wider world.

Conflict
Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Feb 9, 2022

Will Germany’s new leader be reliable enough for Washington? 

By Rachel Rizzo

Chancellor Olaf Scholz must recommit Germany to the transatlantic alliance. That's no easy task.

Germany
Politics & Diplomacy

UkraineAlert

Feb 7, 2022

Still not too late for Germany to honor its commitment to Ukraine

By Eugene Czolij

Germany says a sense of "historical responsibility" over Nazi crimes prevents Berlin from adopting a firmer stand against Russia. Many in Ukraine ask why this logic does not also apply to the millions of Ukrainian WWII victims.

Conflict
Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion
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Experts

Fellow

Tyson Barker

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

James Batchik

Associate Director

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Fellow

Phyllis Berry

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia France

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Noel Coenraad

Strategy Advisor, Vattenfall AB

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy Transitions Germany

Fellow

Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Hanna Dohmen

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Chinese
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