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COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

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.

Host and Eurasia Center Senior Fellow Brian Whitmore invites guest experts to deliver their insights and analysis in this weekly podcast. The Atlantic Council and the Charles T. McDowell Center for Global Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington co-sponsor this production.

The Russia Tomorrow series

recent events

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.

Content

Seizing the advantage

May 27, 2021

A connected world is a vulnerable world. The US can help secure it.

By Benjamin Jensen

National security is no longer measured by the size of a country’s military forces. It is measured by how efficiently and securely a country, as part of a network of allies and partners, exchanges information, resources, and ideas.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

May 27, 2021

D’Anieri in The National Interest: Kyrgyzstan’s Japarov emulates Putin’s authoritarian model

By Atlantic Council

Central Asia Populism

BelarusAlert

May 26, 2021

Did Russia assist in Belarus dictator’s act of air piracy?

By Brian Whitmore

Did Belarus dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka get a stealthy assist from Vladimir Putin's Russia in hijacking a commercial airliner travelling between two European Union countries?

Belarus International Norms

MENASource

May 26, 2021

Do China and Russia want to replace the US as mediators in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?

By Richard LeBaron, Mohamed Bin Huwaidin, Daniel Rakov, Jonathan Fulton, and Joze Pelayo

In this brief reaction piece, three experts from our working group on Chinese and Russian power projection in the Middle East offer their views on the viability of Russia or China bringing the parties closer to the negotiating table.

China Israel

In the News

May 25, 2021

Katz in Russia Matters: “Russia’s Competing Policy Interests in Syria and the Middle East”

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Russia

BelarusAlert

May 24, 2021

State-sponsored air piracy: Belarus dictator tests the international community

By Peter Dickinson

European leaders agreed to new sanctions against Belarus on May 24, the day after dictator Lukashenka sparked uproar by forcing an EU passenger jet to land in Minsk and abducting a high-profile dissident passenger.

Belarus European Union

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2021

Belarus air piracy: How the world should respond

By Daniel Fried

Outrage at aggression should lead to action. The West has options for a civil-aviation response as well as new targeted sanctions.

Belarus Economic Sanctions

Op-Ed

May 24, 2021

The Kremlin’s Painfully Human Incompetence

By Doug Klain

“Whatever the Russian state does to dress-up and hide the corruption and criminality running rampant, it’s a state filled with bumbling, embarrassing fools granted enormous power over others. Highlighting their incompetence and humanity is one of the greatest threats to that power — and it’s something they are willing to kill over.” Doug Klain

Corruption Intelligence

UkraineAlert

May 20, 2021

Putin’s passport ploy in Ukraine may pave way for Russia’s next annexation

By Peter Dickinson

As Vladimir Putin’s hybrid war against Ukraine grinds into its eighth year, Russian passports are emerging as Moscow’s most effective weapon in its struggle to limit Ukrainian sovereignty.

Conflict Non-Traditional Threats

UkraineAlert

May 20, 2021

Biden softens sanctions on Putin’s pipeline

By Diane Francis

The Biden administration has this week announced a mixed bag of sanctions and waivers concerning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, leaving opponents of Putin’s pet energy project confused and alarmed.

Geopolitics & Energy Security Germany

Experts

Events