issue spotlight

Stay updated

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

New Atlanticist

Nov 13, 2008

The Kaliningrad Missile Crisis

By Neil Leslie

The Kremlin’s latest move to deploy missiles in Kaliningrad is the first time since the Cold War that Russia has “declared its intention to create a military threat to the West.” Yet the nature of the threat does not represent a fundamental challenge to U.S. or European security and has been largely overblown on both […]

Missile Defense NATO

New Atlanticist

Nov 12, 2008

Russia and $50 Oil

By James Joyner

Oil prices have plummeted in recent weeks, hitting a 20-month low of $59 per barrel, a 60 percent drop-off from its summer high of $147.  One might reasonably think that this would be crippling to a country like Russia, which relies so heavily on energy exports to stake its claim to major power status.  The […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Oct 31, 2008

NATO Must Recognize Russia’s New Role

By David Capezza

Following its actions in Georgia, which gained the attention of many observers in the West, Russia has continued efforts to assert its influence in the region by, most recently, exploring possible solutions to the frozen conflict between Moldova and the separatist region of Trans-Dniester.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2008

Business as Usual with Russia

By David Smith

There was good and bad news last week about western efforts to end Russian aggression against Georgia.  Good was that international donors pledged $4.5 billion to help repair the damage Russia inflicted upon Georgia during the hot phase of the war.  Bad was that the European Commission and the French Presidency of the European Union […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 24, 2008

Russia and Iran’s Proposed Gas Cartel

By Neil Leslie

Russia’s Gazprom recently announced plans for the formation of a ‘gas troika’ along with Iran and Qatar. Initially proposed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2007, the development has raised fears in the West that a gas cartel will destabilize energy supplies and pose a security threat to Europe.

Energy & Environment Iran

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2008

Russia Still a “Major Player”

By Peter Cassata

Russia in Global Affairs editor Fyodor Lukyanov recently proclaimed, “[O]ur long effort to integrate with Western institutions, to become part of the Western system, is over.  The aim now is to be an independent power in a multi-polar world in which Russia is a major player.” 

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 21, 2008

Geneva 1936, 2008

By David Smith

A Russian diplomatic landmine exploded international talks on the future of the Georgian territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia last week in Geneva.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 20, 2008

Stalemate in the Caucasus? Think Cyprus, Not Kosovo

By Nikolas Gvosdev

There has been a good deal of  talk about the Kosovo precedent in discussions about what to do next with regard to Georgia, Russia and the status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russia The Caucasus
UN Headquarters Geneva

New Atlanticist

Oct 17, 2008

Bound to Fail: International Mediation in Georgia

By David Phillips

It was no surprise that that international discussions on the security and stability arrangements in Abkhazia and South Ossetia broke down on October 15.

Russia The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2008

Piracy’s Silver Lining?

By Peter Pham

I recently outlined the growing challenge to international commerce and security posed by the burgeoning piracy in the waters off the Somali coast and lamented that it looked unlikely that the international community would muster the political will to confront the underlying causes of the pirate phenomenon. Nonetheless, there may be an upside to the […]

European Union International Organizations

Experts