Atlantic Council’s Post

NATO leaders on Wednesday released the Washington Summit Declaration. It lays out a “bridge” to membership for Ukraine and a long-term financial commitment. Atlantic Council experts Daniel Fried, Rachel Rizzo, Ann Marie Dailey, Luka Ignac, Wayne Schroeder, PhD, Andrew D'Anieri, Christopher Harper, Robert Soofer, and Beniamino I. break down what’s in the communiqué—and what isn’t:

“Having this week recognized the challenge as global and focused on Russia and China, having more closely embraced Indo-Pacific partners, now comes the hard part for the world’s most enduring and successful Alliance,” writes Frederick Kempe in #InflectionPoints. Read more. ⬇️

NEW UPDATE | The Atlantic Council GeoEconomics Center has released a major update to their Cryptocurrency Regulation Tracker. Here are some of the key findings: ➡️ Among the 60 countries studied, cryptocurrency is legal in 33, partially banned in 17, and generally banned in 10. ➡️ Of the countries reviewed, 70% are in the process of making substantial changes to their regulatory framework. ➡️ Both emerging-market and advanced economies still lag on regulatory frameworks and oversight. Only 19 of the 60 countries studied have regulations in place on taxation, AML/CTF, consumer protection, and licensing. ➡️ Stablecoins are the next frontier of cryptocurrency regulation. With the implementation of MiCA in the EU, half of the G7 countries now have stablecoin regulations in place. ➡️ Over 90% of the countries studied have active CBDC projects, indicating that countries adapt and update crypto regulation as they explore CBDCs. Ananya Kumar, Alisha Chhangani, Leila H., Gustavo Romero Explore the Tracker. ⬇

We're #hiring a new Project Assistant, Atlantic Council in Turkey & Turkey programs in Türkiye. Apply today or share this post with your network.

“There is a significant risk that the transfer of convicted war criminal Hamid Noury could lead to similar cases unless the international community addresses its detonating effects,” writes Shadi Sadr. Read more. ⬇️

Ahead of the Syrian People’s Assembly elections on July 15, Vladimir Pran and Maroun Sfeir examine the structure of the Syrian electorate and why credible projections are so elusive. Read more. ⬇️

We're #hiring a new Program Assistant, Forward Defense in Washington, District of Columbia. Apply today or share this post with your network.

#UkraineAlert – Ukraine’s recent National Prayer Breakfast highlighted the country’s commitment to religious freedom and challenged Kremlin accusations of religious persecution in the country, writes Steven Moore. Read more. ⬇️

Watch Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Jenna Ben-Yehuda break down the key takeaways from the 75th #NATOSummit and #NATOPublicForum.

“China is the main enabler” of Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Atlantic Council’s Frederick Kempe at the #NATOPublicForum on Wednesday. “If China continues, they cannot have it both ways.” Read the full transcript of their conversation: