Atlantic Council Names John E. Waldron of Goldman Sachs to Lead Its International Advisory Board
Goldman Sachs president and COO John E. Waldron has been named chairman of the Atlantic Council’s International Advisory Board, succeeding former national security adviser Stephen J. Hadley. Waldron becomes the fourth chair in the board’s history, which convenes CEOs, former cabinet officials, and other global leaders to advise the think‑tank. Hadley will stay on as chairman emeritus and retain his executive vice‑chair role on the Council’s board. The appointment comes as the Atlantic Council seeks to navigate increasingly complex international alliances and economic challenges.
Kroenig Interviewed on CNN on US Action in Iran
Matthew Kroenig, senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center, was interviewed on CNN on March 13 to defend President Trump’s approach toward Iran. He claimed that recent U.S. actions, including expanded sanctions and calibrated military signaling, are deliberately weakening...
Romania’s Drone and Energy Plans with Ukraine Make Europe Stronger and More Secure
Romanian President Nicușor Dan and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a Strategic Partnership Declaration in Bucharest, formalizing cooperation on defense, energy, and economic projects. The agreement includes a €200 million joint drone production program and expands Romania’s role as a NATO eastern‑flank...
So What’s the Strategy on Iran?
The Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center released a new "So What’s the Strategy?" podcast episode featuring former National Security Council chief of staff Alex Gray. Host Matthew Kroenig and Gray dissect Washington’s approach to the ongoing Iran war, referencing the 2020...
Charai for The Jerusalem Strategic Tribune: JD Vance and the Strategic Logic of Trump’s Foreign Policy
Ahmed Charai argues that former President Donald Trump’s foreign policy was driven by a coherent strategic logic rather than ad‑hoc decisions. He highlights how the "America First" approach reshaped U.S. engagement in the Middle East, emphasizing energy security, transactional alliances,...
Lichfield Quoted in Bloomberg Article Discussing How Countries Are Shielding Their Economies From Iran War Shocks
Atlantic Council senior fellow Lichfield was quoted in a Bloomberg piece highlighting how governments are insulating their economies from the fallout of the Iran‑Israel conflict. He noted that nations are bolstering strategic petroleum reserves, diversifying supply chains, and employing financial...
What Rob Jetten’s New Minority Government Means for Dutch and European Defense
Rob Jetten leads the Netherlands’ first minority coalition, formed by D66, CDA and VVD, holding only 66 of 150 parliamentary seats. The government’s agenda emphasizes a stronger European pillar within NATO, a 3.5% of GDP defence spending target, and joint...
Energy Under Attack: What the Gulf Can Learn From Ukraine and Iraq
Iranian forces struck Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG hub and a Saudi oil facility, underscoring that Gulf energy assets are now frontline targets. The attacks follow a pattern set by the 2019 Abqaiq strikes and highlight the vulnerability of export‑centric infrastructure. Iraq’s...
Costa Quoted in AFP Article on US Interceptor Stocks in the Conflict with Iran
Forward Defense director Joe Costa told AFP that U.S. air‑defense interceptor stocks could run short if a sustained conflict with Iran erupts. He warned that such a scenario would force the United States to reallocate missiles away from other theaters....
To Succeed, Trump’s Shield of the Americas Should Focus on Institutions as Well as Cartels
The Trump administration unveiled the Shield of the Americas initiative, convening thirteen Latin American leaders in Doral, Florida, to coordinate intelligence, joint operations, and military efforts against cartel‑driven drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and violence. While the security‑first premise is sound,...
Kroenig on The Beacon of Liberty Podcast on the Truman Doctrine
On March 12, Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig appeared on The Beacon of Liberty podcast to discuss the Truman Doctrine. He traced the policy’s origins to post‑World War II fears of Soviet expansion and highlighted its role in shaping early Cold War strategy. Kroenig linked...
Three Lessons From Libya for the War in Iran
The article warns against treating Iran as a replica of Libya, noting that while both interventions involved NATO‑backed air campaigns and regime removal, their political contexts differ. Libya’s failure stemmed from an undefined political end‑state, fragmented coalition goals, and uncontrolled...
Foe or Friend? US-Turkey Bilateral Relations Seem Set to Improve as Interests Align
U.S.–Turkey relations are moving toward greater cooperation as shared strategic interests outweigh public rhetoric. An analysis of sixteen regional and global issues finds eleven areas of full alignment, four with friction and one mixed, yielding a net positive score. The...
Q&A with Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11)
Virginia Rep. James Walkinshaw, a first‑term congressman, has joined the bipartisan Caucus on US‑Turkish Relations and Turkish Americans. He argues the caucus can strengthen democratic norms in Turkey while leveraging the country’s strategic position in regional security. Walkinshaw stresses Congress’s...
Q&A with Turkish Member of Parliament Fuat Oktay
Fuat Oktay, former vice‑president and chair of Turkey’s Foreign Affairs Committee, discussed the growing US‑Turkey convergence on Syria, Ukraine, Gaza and the Azerbaijan‑Armenia peace process, while urging removal of restrictions on Turkey’s participation in the F‑35 program. He highlighted Turkey’s...
Navigating Change: US-Turkish Defense Relations in 2026
The Atlantic Council’s Defense Journal outlines how U.S.‑Turkish defense relations are evolving in 2026 amid heightened activity in Syria, Libya, Ukraine, Gaza and Iran. Both Washington and Ankara see strategic openings in Syria and Libya, while the Russian invasion of...
Ankara and Washington Can Build on Recent Groundwork to Improve Relations and Stability
Turkish‑US relations, long strained by sanctions, the S‑400, the YPG and competing Middle‑East agendas, entered a pragmatic phase in 2025 after President Erdoğan’s Washington visit. The two capitals began compartmentalising disputes while expanding cooperation on Gaza cease‑fire implementation, post‑Assad Syrian...
Has the EU Found a ‘Magic Bullet’ to Its Enlargement Conundrum or a New Distraction?
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged faster enlargement, calling it an antidote to Russian aggression. Member states remain cautious, fearing that admitting poorer, less democratic candidates could erode unanimity‑based decision‑making. Brussels is debating a two‑tier EU where new members...
Fighting Mercenaries: A Ukrainian Soldier’s Perspective
In the Guns for Hire podcast, Ukrainian drone pilot Dimko Zhluktenko explains how his unit counters Russian Shahed drones and adapts to a war where procurement cycles run in weeks. He highlights the psychological strain of facing waves of expendable...
New START Might Be Dead, but Legally Binding Arms Control Isn’t
The New START treaty lapsed in February 2026, leaving a void in the U.S.-Russia nuclear framework. Analysts argue that arms‑control remains vital for managing great‑power competition, even as Russia and China resist engagement. A pragmatic U.S.-Russia proposal emphasizes inspections, data...
Inside Trump’s Long-Term Economic Strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic
John Jovanovic, chairman of the U.S. Export‑Import Bank, outlined a long‑term economic agenda that aligns with former President Trump’s focus on export resilience and strategic stockpiles. He detailed Project Vault, a demand‑driven critical‑mineral reserve designed to curb just‑in‑time vulnerabilities. Jovanovic also...
Hajjar Chemali Interviewed on CNN Discussing the Growing Economic Collapse Inside Iran
In a recent CNN interview, political analyst Hajjar Chemali warned that Iran’s economy is spiraling toward collapse. He highlighted hyperinflation, a depreciating rial, and shrinking oil revenues as core drivers. Chemali also noted rising unemployment and mounting public unrest as...
How the White House’s Plan B on Tariffs Can Give It All the Trade Leverage It Needs
The Supreme Court’s February 20 decision barred the president from imposing tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, ending the Trump administration’s primary trade‑leverage tool. Until that ruling, the administration had clinched eight reciprocal trade agreements and ten framework deals...
The Renminbi Is Winning over Africa—But Can It Rival the Dollar?
The US dollar still dominates Africa’s trade, finance and debt, but China’s renminbi is gaining traction. African policymakers have launched the Pan‑African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) to enable local‑currency cross‑border payments, yet adoption remains modest. Since 2024, renminbi usage...
Enforce Sanctions to Prevent Russia From Benefitting in a Prolonged Iran Crisis
The United States and its allies are warning that the Iran‑Israel conflict could lift oil prices to $80‑plus per barrel, creating a lucrative window for Russia’s sanctioned oil stockpiles. Russia, facing dwindling revenues after years of sanctions, now eyes the...
Temnycky in Real Clear Defense on the Impact of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion on US and European Security
Mark Temnycky argues that Russia’s full‑scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered the post‑Cold War security paradigm in Europe, forcing the United States and its allies to re‑arm and rethink deterrence strategies. He warns that the policy choices made by Washington,...
Kroenig Quoted in The New York Times on US Policy in Iran
The New York Times quoted Atlantic Council senior director Matthew Kroenig on March 3, revealing that President Trump is expected to favor a rapid, limited operation in Iran rather than a drawn‑out conflict. Kroenig, a nuclear strategy expert, said the administration aims to...
Kroenig on Reagan Institute Podcast on US Policy Toward Iran
On March 3, Atlantic Council vice‑president and Scowcroft Center senior director Matthew Kroenig appeared on the Reagan Institute podcast to discuss U.S. policy toward Iran. He examined the tension between preemptive military options and diplomatic engagement amid Tehran’s nuclear advancements and...
#AtlanticDebrief – What’s in Store for the Three Seas Summit? | A Debrief From Amb. Romana Vlahutin
The Atlantic Council’s #AtlanticDebrief interview with Croatia’s Special Envoy Romana Vlahutin outlines the agenda for the 2026 Three Seas Summit in Dubrovnik. Senior Fellow Ian Brzezinski and Vlahutin discuss how the summit will focus on strategic connectivity, energy diversification, and...
How a Crisis over a Stockpile of Uranium Created an Opening for US Reengagement in Niger
The failed December 7, 2025 coup in Benin has left Niger’s military government even more isolated, sharpening a diplomatic opening for Washington. Niger’s junta seized roughly 1,000 tons of uranium yellowcake from French firm Orano, but legal rulings and transit obstacles have frozen...
Expanding Transmission Infrastructure to Achieve Low-Cost, Reliable, and Abundant Energy
U.S. electricity demand is surging, driven by data centers and electrification, but transmission construction has stalled, dropping from 1,700 miles per year (2010‑14) to just 350 miles (2020‑23). The report identifies four key barriers—cumbersome permitting, aging infrastructure costs, siloed utility...
Turkey’s Gas Diversification Strategy and Rising Share of LNG
Since Turkey’s 2016 energy policy, the country has transformed from a pipeline‑dependent gas importer to a diversified market anchored by rapid LNG expansion. Regasification capacity rose fivefold to 150 million cubic metres per day, driven by a fleet of FSRUs that...
Missiles Made in Ukraine Are Bringing Putin’s Invasion Home to Russia
Ukraine’s domestically produced FP‑5 Flamingo cruise missile achieved a landmark strike in February, hitting the Votkinsk missile‑production complex deep inside Russia. The missile, developed by startup Fire Point, boasts a claimed 3,000‑kilometre range and a payload of over one tonne,...
The Risk of Unknown Unknowns for Global Markets Amid War in Iran
The recent escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran highlights the market challenge of "unknown unknowns"—risks that defy traditional modeling. While investors have tools to hedge known shocks, the lack of definable parameters forces regulators to prioritize liquidity and...
Charai in The National Interest: How the US Can Sustain Deterrence After Khamenei
The Atlantic Council essay by Ahmed Charai examines how the United States can preserve a credible deterrence posture in the Middle East after the eventual death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Charai argues that Washington must blend conventional force,...
How to Deter Chinese Aggression Against Taiwan, with Rep. John Moolenaar
In a February 27 2026 Atlantic Council podcast, Rep. John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on China, argued that deterring Chinese aggression in the Taiwan Strait is a core U.S. national‑security interest. He discussed the economic stakes of the U.S.–China rivalry...
One Month in, Can Honduras’ New President Put the Country on the Path to Lasting Economic Gains?
Honduras’ new president Nasry Asfura has launched a suite of early reforms focused on fiscal austerity, expanding the Temporary Import Regime and re‑joining the World Bank’s ICSID to boost investor confidence. His administration secured a meeting with former President Donald...
Tannebaum Featured on Bloomberg Radio Podcast Discussing the Need for Further Economic Pressure on Russia for Peace Talks
Michael Tannebaum appeared on Bloomberg Radio to argue that additional economic pressure on Russia is essential to compel Moscow toward genuine peace negotiations. He highlighted that existing sanctions have weakened Russia’s war‑fighting capacity but have not yet forced a diplomatic...
DFC Reauthorization Is Here: The Good, the Bad, and the Next Steps for Connectivity
The U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) received a major re‑authorization embedded in the FY2026 NDAA, boosting its contingent liability limit to $205 billion and expanding geographic eligibility for ICT projects. The bill creates a $5 billion equity revolving fund—though unfunded—and grants new...
Donovan Quoted by Energy Intelligence Group on the Legality of Secondary Tariffs Under Supreme Court IEEPA Ruling
Donovan, a senior policy analyst, was quoted by Energy Intelligence Group discussing the Supreme Court’s recent interpretation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as it applies to secondary tariffs. The Court ruled that secondary sanctions must be narrowly...
Lipsky Featured on CNN Discussing the Nature of Trump’s New 15% Global Tariff and the Future of Trade Policy
Former U.S. Trade Representative Michael Lipsky appeared on CNN to dissect President Donald Trump's newly announced 15% global tariff. He explained that the blanket duty applies to virtually all imported goods, raising concerns about cost inflation and competitive disadvantages for...
Why the Arctic Matters to the United States
The Arctic is emerging as a strategic frontier for energy, trade and security, as melting ice unlocks vast hydrocarbon and critical‑mineral deposits and shortens shipping lanes. Russia controls more than half the Arctic coastline and is modernizing its military presence,...
The US and Mexico Need Stronger Financial Cooperation to Disrupt Illicit Financial Flows
The United States and Mexico have launched a new financial‑intelligence partnership to curb the money that fuels drug cartels, highlighted by the recent killing of Jalisco New Generation leader El Mencho. Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit and banking regulator have shifted toward...
Can Project Vault Fortify the US Industrial Base Against Mineral Chokepoints?
In February 2026 the U.S. Air Force faced F‑35 radar delays because gallium supplies were blocked by China, prompting the launch of Project Vault, a $12 billion strategic critical‑mineral reserve backed by the Export‑Import Bank and private investors. Unlike the historic...
To Harness Saudi Arabia’s Demographic Dividend, Riyadh Must Invest in Human Capital
Saudi Arabia has appointed Fahad Al‑Saif as minister of investment, signaling a pivot from pure capital accumulation to a focus on total factor productivity. Foreign direct investment inflows have surged from roughly $3 billion in 2019 to $22‑28 billion today, while outbound...
Eight Questions (and Expert Answers) on What’s Next for US Tariff Policy
President Donald Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on most imports, revising his earlier 15 percent target. The move follows a Supreme Court decision that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act does not grant the president authority to impose such duties. Experts...
Ukrainians Don’t Want to Be Resilient. Putin Has Given Them No Other Choice.
The article argues that Ukrainian resilience is not a voluntary virtue but a forced response to Vladimir Putin’s relentless invasion, which seeks to erase Ukraine’s national identity. While global media celebrates the population’s courage, the resilience narrative can mask the urgent...
The European Central Bank’s Next President May Decide the Fate of the Digital Euro
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde highlighted the digital euro as a core part of her legacy, noting its progress from research to a live policy effort. The project is now in a "preparation phase" with technical design and pilot...
In Guinea, the US Has a Rare Opportunity to Gain an Edge over China
Guinea’s newly elected president Mamady Doumbouya hosted a high‑profile inauguration attended by U.S. officials and a Chinese envoy, underscoring the country’s strategic importance. With roughly a quarter of global bauxite reserves and emerging lithium, uranium and iron‑ore projects, Guinea sits...
What I Told Israeli Lawmakers About Reviving Regional Integration
Five and a half years after the Abraham Accords, U.S. and Israeli officials argue that regional integration remains viable despite the Gaza war and a Saudi‑UAE rift. The article stresses that advancing phase two of Trump’s Gaza reconstruction plan—contingent on...