Western Europe

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

A man in a hurry: Keir Starmer’s early approach is making waves at home and abroad

By Ed Owen

The new UK prime minister’s much-anticipated speech at the Labour Party’s recent gathering in Liverpool is a window into where the country may be headed.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

Three state elections have backed Germany into a corner

By Jurek Wille and Friedrich Conradi

The recent successes of populist parties in Germany’s state elections could signal an imminent shift in Berlin’s policies on climate, immigration, and aid for Ukraine.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist Sep 26, 2024

France’s new government aims to calm the political storm. What will it mean for foreign policy?

By Léonie Allard, Jean-Loup Samaan

Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to follow the path of President Emmanuel Macron, but the big question is whether the delicate political context in Paris will allow ministers to focus on crises in Ukraine and Lebanon.

Europe & Eurasia France

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Public Event Thu, July 24, 2025 • 8:45 am ET

Germany’s digital minister on Europe’s digital competitiveness

Digital Policy Economy & Business Germany

Public Event Tue, May 27, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

The Rt Hon Lord Mandelson on Britain in an enduring transatlantic relationship

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Public Event Tue, May 6, 2025 • 12:30 pm ET

Belgium’s defense minister on Europe’s evolving security landscape

Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense Western Europe

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Content

UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2020

Ukraine can feed Brexit Britain

By Bate C. Toms

The UK is Europe's biggest food importer and Ukraine is one of the continent's top agricultural producers. This makes a post-Brexit free trade deal a potentially big win for both countries.

Trade and tariffs Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2020

The economic battleground between China and the United Kingdom

By Michael Greenwald

The importance of the Shanghai-London Stock Connect suspension will depend on whether additional policy moves targeting large British firms will follow. In terms of tangible effects, this event causes little economic disruption, but is probably the most symbolically important use of Chinese financial sanctions thus far.

China Financial Regulation

In the News

Jan 12, 2020

Yade joins Jury du Dimanche to discuss politics in France, Senegal, and the Sahel

By Atlantic Council

Africa Elections

New Atlanticist

Jan 4, 2020

The Soleimani assassination: A view from Britain

By John M. Roberts

While UK political commentators were phrasing Britain’s low-key response to the assassination as even-handedness, the actual response on the ground is likely to be anything but.

Iran Iraq

In the News

Jan 1, 2020

Nurkin’s January 2020 Deftech Scan report released by Armasuisse

By Atlantic Council

In January, Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Tate Nurkin published the latest issue of Deftech Scan. Published by Armasuisse (the Swiss Federal Office for Defense Procurement), Deftech Scan is a publication intended to give an overview of new technologies and capabilities in the defense sector. In the January edition, Nurkin focused specifically on the “intelligentization of warfare” and what enhanced, AI-enabled technologies may portend for modern war-fighting.

Defense Technologies Intelligence

In the News

Dec 20, 2019

Morningstar and Fried quoted in Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on Nord Stream 2 sanctions

By Atlantic Council

Eastern Europe Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Dec 20, 2019

Top ten risks of 2020

By Robert A. Manning, Mathew Burrows

2020 will likely bear more resemblance to the 1930s, as some of the developments which did not reach a denouement in the past year cross the finish line. Several simmering conflicts, symptoms of a global system under strain from US President Donald J. Trump’s “anti-globalist” America First doctrine, could well reach breakpoints in 2020. This may include a shift from the mere corroding of multilateral institutions and US alliances toward total dysfunction.

China International Norms

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2019

Russia gas pipeline sanctions legislation (PEES Act): A way ahead

By Daniel Fried

Enacting the sanctions mandated by the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act (PEES Act), for all its careful crafting, may not actually block Nord Stream II but may instead burden the US-German relationship. Rather than impose sanctions, the administration should waive them for now but prepare even stronger contingency sanctions to be implemented should the Kremlin once again use gas exports as political leverage against Ukraine, Central Europe, or the Baltics.

Economic Sanctions European Union

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2019

The domestic fallout from the UK general election

By John M. Roberts

The prime minister now has almost unfettered power, with little or no restraints from either the formal opposition parties or from within his own party. The new MPs assembling at Westminster today, many of them representing former industrial areas captured from Labour, present both a challenge and opportunity.

Elections United Kingdom

President Trump and Prime Minister Johnson meet with each other

New Atlanticist

Dec 15, 2019

Expect an early Johnson visit to Washington

By Peter Westmacott

As the UK focuses on completing Brexit and developing new trading links with the rest of the world, Washington and London will likely continue to look for ways to stay aligned.

United Kingdom