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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

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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

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Middle East Power Play

By John Herbst

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst joins WBUR’s On Point to discuss Russia’s intervention in Syria and the US response:

Russia Syria

UkraineAlert

Oct 12, 2015

A Bold and Optimistic Strategy for Europe

By Stephen Blank

US President Barack Obama recently derided critics of his foreign policies as offering merely mumbo-jumbo. Yet everyone can plainly see the administration’s shocking degree of across-the-board strategic incomprehension and incompetence in Europe and the Middle East. In fact, European Union diplomats publicly admit that confidence in US policies is plummeting throughout Europe. Therefore, I offer […]

Russia Ukraine
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Stavanger, Oct. 12, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

Secretary General: NATO Needs ‘Strong Forces’ to Prevent War

By Jens Stoltenberg, NATO

NATO’s deterrence is significant and it is real. If Turkey needs NATO’s help, NATO will be there.

Cybersecurity NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Feb. 9, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

The Role of Egypt in Russia’s New Power Play in the Middle East

By Nicholas Varangis

In a GOP debate hosted by CNN, Senator Marco Rubio asserted that Russia is “trying to replace (the United States) as the single most important power broker in the Middle East.”

North Africa Russia

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Herbst and Hof on Russia’s Intervention in Syria

By John Herbst and Fred Hof

Defense News quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst and Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Russia’s intervention in Syria and the recently announced intelligence-sharing agreement between Iran, Syria, and Russia:

Iran Russia

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Younis: Iraq Should Fear Russia’s Help

By Nussaibah Younis

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Nussaibah Younis writes for the New York Times on why Iraq should be more cautious about accepting assistance from Russia:

Iraq Russia
Chancellor Angela Merkel, President Vladimir Putin, and President Francois Hollande, Feb. 21, 2015

NATOSource

Oct 12, 2015

Can Diplomacy Save Ukraine?

By Lucas Della Ventura

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2014, NATO has been wrestling with its new relationship with a belligerent Moscow.

NATO Russia

In the News

Oct 9, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Economy and Intervention in Syria

By Anders Aslund

Anadolu Agency Energy Terminal quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on Russia’s economy and whether it has the capacity to sustain a long-term intervention in Syria:

Russia Syria
B-2 bomber, May 30, 2006

NATOSource

Oct 9, 2015

UK Calls for NATO to Restart Special Nuclear Exercises

By Matthew Holehouse and Peter Foster, Telegraph

Announcing plans to double Nato’s rapid-Response Force to 40,000 troops after a meeting in Brussels, Britain called for a return to Cold War-style planning exercises to test Nato readiness to escalate from conventional to nuclear war….

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Oct 9, 2015

Wilson on Obama, Putin, and Enforcement of the Minsk Agreement

By Damon Wilson

Executive Vice President Damon Wilson joins Voice of America Ukraine to discuss the latest developments in Ukraine and enforcement on the Minsk agreement: Watch the full interview here.

Russia Ukraine

Experts