“The past year’s Gen Z protests are worth analyzing together for what they have in common, as these movements are influenced by one another and were all initiated by youth adept at using technology to organize,” writes Will Mortenson.

President Trump has ramped up attacks on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific while building up US military presence in the region. The Atlantic Council’s Matthew Kroenig and Jason Marczak shed light on what’s going on and what to expect next:

With Nigeria on the brink of a diplomatic crisis with the US, President Bola Tinubu must confront extremist violence without inflaming sectarian divides and rebuild diplomatic ties with Washington, writes Ohimai Amaize.

President Trump announced on Thursday that Kazakhstan will join the Abraham Accords. Atlantic Council experts share their insights on the broader implications of the development:

Following Maduro's request to #Russia for aid, @shelbyjmag.bsky.social and I unpack what assistance #Venezuela might actually receive (spoiler: not much!) for the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social: www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-at...

If President Trump wants to make progress on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, he should use tomorrow's meeting with Viktor Orban to push for Hungary to drop its veto over Ukraine's EU accession and stop buying Russian energy, writes James Batchik for @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social.

A protégé of Shinzo Abe, Japan’s first female prime minister Takaichi Sanae “will need to be selective in which foreign policies she sustains from Abe’s legacy to best address a fundamentally different global and domestic political environment,” writes Kyoko Imai.

NEW | The Atlantic Council’s Economic Statecraft Initiative and Global Energy Center have launched the Energy Sanctions Dashboard—a first-of-its-kind tool that offers insights into the impact and consequences of energy sanctions. Explore the dashboard below:

China believes it is “far, far closer to a peer now”, said Dexter Roberts, a non-resident senior fellow at the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social Global China Hub. aje.io/qcyznh

The US sanctioned Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil on Thursday—the first such action against Russia in Trump’s second term. How will this affect Russia’s war on Ukraine? Atlantic Council experts share their perspectives below:

#UkraineAlert – With the proposed Trump-Putin summit in Budapest now postponed, “Putin will doubtless continue to profess his desire for peace while engaging in stalling tactics and playing for time,” writes Peter Dickinson.

A willingness to use chemical weapons has long been a feature of Russian aggression, in Ukraine and across Europe. In a new report, Atlantic Council experts examine how Russia employs these threats and recommend a strong NATO response:

At the IMF-World Bank annual meetings, cautious optimism about the global economy was tempered by what could come next, writes Frederick Kempe in #InflectionPoints.

The pioneering greenhouse-gas reduction treaty for shipping has failed. Here's more about it in a report from earlier this year www.atlanticcouncil.org/wp-content/u... (Part of @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social's Maritime Threats initiative.)

What will follow part one of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire deal brokered by the Trump administration? Atlantic Council experts answer twenty pressing questions below:

What lies ahead for the global economy? As IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva put it: “Uncertainty is the new normal, and it is here to stay.” Live from the IMF–World Bank #AnnualMeetings, Atlantic Council experts unpack what this uncertainty means for global markets and policymakers:

As the US-China trade war resumes, could President Trump’s leverage with Xi Jinping be impacted by the Supreme Court’s deliberations? The Atlantic Council’s Josh Lipsky weighs in:

FAST THINKING | Israel and Hamas just struck a ‘phase one’ deal to return hostages. Is the end of the war near? Atlantic Council experts share their insights: https://bit.ly/4o1m3W5

“Gen Z Moroccans are charting their own course toward justice and belonging,” writes Sarah Zaaimi. “Their quest is not against the crown or the system, but against the illusion that performance equals progress.”

“Putin’s theory of victory rests on the idea that he will outlast Ukraine and the United States in terms of longevity and support on the battlefield,” said Institute for the Study of War President Kimberly Kagan at the Atlantic Council on Tuesday Watch the full event here: https://bit.ly/4q1zqqo

📉 Since the start of Trump’s second term, the US dollar has fallen about 12% against a set of major African currencies. Bart Piasecki explains how debt-burdened African nations can turn this to their advantage: https://bit.ly/4mU8rdw

On Friday, Hamas agreed to release all of the remaining hostages that it captured during its October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel. Atlantic Council experts share their perspectives on what this means for a potential cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war:

We had a rousing conversation about the future of the dollar, the euro, and more at the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics in Brussels earlier this week. Thanks to Josh Lipsky for leading us. Watch the full panel here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k6w...

#UkraineAlert – “The release of political prisoners by the Lukashenka regime has been hailed by the White House,” writes Hanna Liubakova. “This might look like progress at first glance, but the reality is less encouraging.”

“Netanyahu couldn’t allow himself to resist the ambitions of Trump, Israel’s prime benefactor,” said Mr Lipner, now a non-resident senior fellow for the Middle East Programmes at the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social. www.straitstimes.com/world/united...

Pleased to participate in the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social Transatlantic Forum today. Engaging discussion on the evolving EU-US partnership, and what that means for our security and economy. Let’s keep the conversation going!

FAST THINKING | Moldova’s pro-Western ruling party has won a parliamentary majority. Atlantic Council experts break down what’s next for the country’s path to EU accession:

Ahead of Moldova’s September 28 election, “Moldovans who see their future in Europe believe they will prevail, but Russia is deploying novel tactics to try to steer that future in Moscow’s direction,” writes John Herbst. “Washington would do well to engage in the fight.”

“For Saudi Arabia, the surprise mutual defense pact signed last week with Pakistan during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Riyadh is a double deterrence tool,” writes Eleonora Ardemagni.

In a new report, Eto Buziashvili and Jakub Kubś examine how Kremlin-linked actors are attempting to influence Moldova’s political landscape ahead of its high-stakes election on September 28. Read the report here. ⬇️

“I don’t want my democracy to be driven by an algorithm,” says 🇫🇷 French President Emmanuel Macron, making the case for social media regulation. Macron was delivering a speech after receiving the 2025 Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award tonight in New York City. #GCA2025 #ACAwards

Encantado de conversar en NY con @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social sobre la política exterior de España. Una política exterior coherente, con identidad propia, que defiende el multilateralismo, la paz, el derecho internacional. Somos un socio comprometido con la seguridad transatlántica.

"If China is willing to hand over control of the algorithm, it will expect major concessions on such issues as trade, curbs on Chinese tech, and Taiwan, said Dexter Roberts, a nonresident senior fellow at the @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social Global China Hub. aje.io/qcdoij @ajenglish.bsky.social

With the deadline for “snapback” sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program approaching, the prospects for renewed talks between Tehran and the West are looking bleak, writes Rob Macaire.

Transnational criminal organizations have become deeply embedded in Mexico’s society, writes Aaron Kolleda. “Countering these groups will take far more than fighting them with security forces.”

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the US military struck a boat it alleged was carrying drugs to the United States from Venezuela. Are such strikes legal? Staff Lawyer Celeste Kmiotek tells us there are five areas of law worth considering. Catch up here ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4mTDoPY

This week, former US Ambassador to Colombia Kevin Whitaker outlined four reasons why the Pentagon has shied away from confronting narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere in the past. Read them here ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3HVFqjx

The global maritime order is under severe strain. Who should protect it? Elisabeth Braw argues that private industry has a vested interest in drafting agreements on the rules of the sea. Get her take here. https://bit.ly/46hKlTJ

"It is still too early to proclaim the emergence of a fully-fledged anti-Western alliance, but major geopolitical shifts are clearly underway," writes Katherine Spencer, reflecting on Chinese President Xi Jinping's meetings and summitry this month. Get up to speed below ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3KkESnR

With the DFC’s reauthorization this year, Congress and the Trump administration have an opportunity to refine the financial institution. Here's what a DFC 2.0 should look like, according to Aubrey Hruby. https://bit.ly/3VhuIXx

The US-Iraq relationship is entering a new era, with Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq slated to come to an end. Our experts answer ten pressing questions on this moment of change—and reflection—for Washington's posture in the Middle East. https://bit.ly/47HD8yO

Was Trump’s strike on an alleged Venezuelan drug boat legal? Staff Lawyer Celeste Kmiotek tells us there are five areas of law worth considering—and walks through all of them in her latest analysis. Catch up here ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4mTDoPY

Recent gatherings in China and France revealed that competing international orders are crystallizing. The question is not only which vision will prevail, but also what role the US will play, writes Frederick Kempe in #InflectionPoints.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 26 European countries have pledged post-war military support to Ukraine. What would fulfilling this commitment look like in practice? Atlantic Council experts share their insights:

“As Washington weighs its next steps, the question is not whether Colombia will remain one of the United States’ most important partners in the hemisphere—but how to recalibrate this partnership and strengthen it for the long run,” write Geoff Ramsey and Isabella Palacios.

#UkraineAlert – “Ukraine’s recent strikes on the Druzhba pipeline are not only an attack on Russia’s war economy,” writes Aura Sabadus. “They are also a wake-up call for Hungarians.”

“US policymakers can and should reinforce the importance of Colombia’s judicial independence, independent election administration, and peaceful, transparent electoral competition,” write Enrique Millan-Mejia and Geoff Ramsey.

“To face down Putin, Trump won’t have to risk a US military action within Russian territory. He merely needs to apply the leverage of the US and European economies,” writes Frederick Kempe in #InflectionPoints.

Why the rule of law is the key to prosperity: Lessons from thirty years of data "The rule of law is the most influential factor for long-term economic growth and societal wellbeing." @atlanticcouncil.bsky.social www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...

#UkraineAlert – Moscow’s efforts to portray Zelenskyy as illegitimate fall apart when weighed against Ukraine’s Constitution and the country’s political practice, along with international precedents and legal tradition, writes Serhii Savelii.