January 18, 2024

Dear friends and colleagues,

We are entering a momentous trans-Atlantic election year, in which the sovereignty of Ukraine; peace, prosperity, and security in Europe; and perhaps the NATO alliance itself are challenged by surging right-wing populists and an increasing alignment of authoritarian powers. The stakes could hardly be higher.

I am pleased to share with you the first edition of the new monthly newsletter produced by Brookings’s Center on the United States and Europe (CUSE). In this edition, we feature analysis from Steven Pifer on the future of the relationship between Ukraine and NATO, from yours truly on the impact of the U.S. elections on Europe, and from Tara Varma on the French responses to the Israel-Gaza war. In light of Russia’s intensified bombardment of Ukrainian cities, we feature data on Kyiv’s aerial defenses from our Ukraine Index. Further CUSE research and commentary looks at what the Russia-Ukraine war means for America’s future, Turkey’s take on the Israel-Gaza war, and German politics.

Finally, we at CUSE are rather chuffed that the work of two of our colleagues was recently acknowledged with decorations: Tara Varma was made a Chevalière of the French National Order of Merit in November, and Fiona Hill was appointed Companion of the Order of St. George and St. Michael (CMG) in Britain’s New Year Honours List. One never knows when one might need colleagues who can wield a sword!

We hope you find this newsletter a useful resource. If you do not want to receive it, please enter your email address on this form.

Sincerely,

Constanze Stelzenmüller

Director, Center on the United States and Europe

The Brookings Institution

For a secure and stable Europe, put Ukraine on a definitive path to NATO

In the latest of our Talbott Papers on Implications of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, Steven Pifer looks back at the complicated history of Ukraine, NATO, and Europe and argues that announcing the opening of accession talks with Kyiv at the NATO summit in Washington this July would send an important signal of commitment.

Read more | See more Talbott Papers

America’s elections, democracy, and role in the world

The 2024 U.S. presidential elections will be a pivotal moment for America's future. Constanze Stelzenmüller walks through the complicated dynamics of the race, presenting the shortcomings of the Biden administration and laying out the stakes of a second Trump presidency.

Read in Internationale Politik Quarterly

France responds to the Israel-Gaza crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron has been criticized for his response to the Israel-Gaza war. What role might France and the European Union play in diplomacy toward a resolution of the conflict? Tara Varma discusses this thorny question in Brookings's Israel-Gaza interview series.

Read more

Insights from the Ukraine Index

This winter could be a turning point in the Russia-Ukraine war and the response from international actors will play a crucial role. Read the latest commentary from Michael O’Hanlon, David Wessel, and Constanze Stelzenmüller on what to watch in Ukraine this year.

For more data on the war in Ukraine, explore the Ukraine Index. This dataset provides valuable insights on security and battlefield trends, tracks the health of the Ukrainian economy and other financial indicators, and looks at international political dimensions, including public opinion and refugee flows.

More research and commentary

What if Putin wins? Fiona Hill sat down with Politico's Maura Reynolds for a riveting discussion on how the Russia-Ukraine war "has become a battlefield [for] America's own future."

Turkey and Israel. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's response to the Israel-Gaza crisis has complicated Turkey's position in the Middle East. Aslı Aydıntaşbaş argues that the Biden administration must take the necessary steps to manage its relationship with Erdoğan in support of regional stability.

Germany's center-right. After the death of German statesman Wolfgang Schäuble last month, Constanze Stelzenmüller reflected in the Financial Times on the state of German politics and the key role of conservatives in staving off a surging radical right ahead of decisive regional elections later this year.