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Articles by James Batchik
Measuring Europe’s rearmament: A year of the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030
Defense Policy Europe European Union Security & Defense It has been one year since the EU released the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, a detailed plan to measure and close Europe’s capability gaps. Fifteen of the roadmap’s milestones are on track or complete; seventeen are not; the status of thirteen milestones is unclear. Instead of trying to entirely replace the US, Europe should focus on the key capabilities it can’t currently produce and that the US has suggested it will pull back.
What did (and didn't) happen at the EU-China Summit
On Wednesday, July 30 at 9:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Global China Hub will host an expert discussion outlining the outcomes of the EU-China Summit. After a tumultuous buildup underscored by Chinese President Xi Jinping initially refusing to attend and an announcement shortening the two-day affair to a single day, the European Union (EU) and China met in Beijing on July 24 to discuss the future of their bilateral relations.
What to expect from Germany's next government
On Tuesday, May 6 at 10:00 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center will host a discussion on what to expect from the new government in Germany, under the leadership of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. On May 6, the German Bundestag will vote to confirm Friedrich Merz as the next German chancellor, succeeding Olaf Scholz, who has served in the post since 2021.
The Three Seas Initiative stands at an inflection point
Central Europe Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy The Three Seas Initiative stands at an inflection point In 2016, twelve European Union (EU) member states launched the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) to accelerate the development of cross-border energy, transport, and digital infrastructure in the region between the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas.
How Europe Should Respond to Trump's Russia Reset
It’s usually not a good sign when Moscow cheers developments in Washington. President Donald Trump’s public blowup with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office coupled with the freezing of military assistance and intelligence sharing are the clearest signs yet of Trump’s attempted rapprochement with Russia and break with Washington’s allies in Europe.
How should Europe step up for Ukraine?
On Thursday, February 27 at 9:30 a.m. ET, the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center and Eurasia Center will host a public discussion on ways Europe should step up for Ukraine. February 24 marked the third year of Ukraine’s fight for survival against Russia’s full-scale invasion. During that time, Ukraine has withstood Russia’s onslaught with the support of its allies around the world—particularly from the United States and its European neighbors.
Your primer on the German elections
In November 2024, the government of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz collapsed. In 2021, his center-left Social Democrats had formed a three-party coalition with the Free Democrats (FDP) and the Greens. Just three years into their term, however, deep divisions over fiscal policy and spending priorities culminated in Scholz firing his finance minister (and FDP leader) Christian Lindner. This ultimately resulted in a no-confidence vote that the chancellor lost, triggering snap elections on February 23.
Transatlantic horizons: A collaborative US-EU policy agenda for 2025 and beyond
This year marks a critical moment for the transatlantic relationship. Elections on both sides of the Atlantic will usher in new governments, administrations, and commissions for some 785 million people across the United States and European Union (EU). Transition and turnover for a new US administration and European Commission specifically offer a chance to reflect on what’s working in US-EU relations and to adapt what’s not.
Western Europe
New Atlanticist Aug 19, 2025 Europe needs to keep up the momentum for Ukraine after its White House show of force By Jörn Fleck, James Batchik Among other steps, European leaders should press forward on defining what security guarantees for Ukraine look like.
Central Europe
Issue Brief Mar 14, 2025 The Three Seas Initiative stands at an inflection point By Emma Nix, Ian Brzezinski The Three Seas Initiative is preparing for a critical summit in Warsaw in 2025. What opportunities exist to ensure the Initiative can accomplish its goal of ensuring a Europe whole, free, secure, and at peace?
The Biden-Trump Presidential Debate
On Thursday, June 27, CNN will host the first presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle. After months of speaking at each other in campaign rallies, Joe Biden and Donald Trump will finally have an opportunity to directly engage in discussion. Domestic politics often dominate presidential debates, but with ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East in addition to U.S.-China competition, 2024 could be different.
What's next for the EU?
The Atlantic Council’s Europe Center hosts a public, virtual event on “What’s next for the EU?” This discussion will take place on Monday, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. ET. Following the European Parliament elections in early June, the European Union (EU) will undergo a period of transition.
Without tariffs, the EU faces a flood of Chinese imports of the new three
Washington’s recent tariffs against Chinese products all but ensure a flood of these exports to Europe, necessitating a response from Brussels. The products include China’s “new three” cleantech exports—lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles (EVs), and solar panels—posing undeniable dilemmas for Brussels as it balances security, economic, and climate interests.
To Prepare for a Second Trump Term, Europe Must Bolster Its Security
Argument An expert's point of view on a current event. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks to journalists at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 16. Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images Foreign & Public Diplomacy Military Security United States Russia Europe Ukraine When U.S. President Joe Biden declared that “America is back” after ousting Donald Trump in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, many European capitals were relieved.
What’s on the EU agenda for 2024?
Please join the Europe Center for a virtual public event on “What’s on the EU agenda for 2024?” This event will take place virtually on Wednesday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET. 2024 will be a year of elections and change on both sides of the Atlantic. At the European level, citizens across the Union will vote for a new European Parliament in June, which will lead to the appointment of a new European Commission for the next five years.
Ukraine’s wartime economy is performing surprisingly well
Visitors to today’s Ukraine are often surprised to find that away from the front lines, everything looks so normal. Most people in central and western Ukraine have returned home. Shops and restaurants in towns and cities across the country are open and fully stocked. Everything functions, including mobile phone networks, internet, electricity, and public transport. Foreign credit cards can be used virtually everywhere and digital banking services are both advanced and near-ubiquitous.
With Congress in chaos, Europe can show the world how to unite and deliver for Ukraine
Conflict Europe & Eurasia European Union Politics & Diplomacy Russia Security & Defense Ukraine United States and Canada With Congress in chaos, Europe can show the world how to unite and deliver for Ukraine “As long as it takes,” so goes the mantra of the European Union (EU) about its support for Ukraine. This week, while eyes have focused on the unfolding drama in the United States House of Representatives, with aid to Ukraine on the chopping block, the EU showed it is pulling its own weight.
Rishi Sunak needs to do away with caution to deliver on his promise of evolutionary foreign policy
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says he wants an evolution for Britain’s role in the world. But two months into his term, Sunak’s approach appears to be caution, offering change around the edges of Britain’s foreign policy and showing himself to be a technocratic and careful operator abroad. Continuity is not a negative by itself. But with Russia’s upending of Europe’s security and the geopolitical shift toward the Indo-Pacific, Sunak needs to offer more if Britain is to be a partner of first resort.
James Batchik
Issues Digital Policy NATO Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense Technology & Innovation Regions Central Europe Europe & Eurasia European Union Germany Russia United Kingdom Europe needs to keep up the momentum for Ukraine after its White House show of force By Jörn Fleck, James Batchik What Europeans think of Trump’s approach to Ukraine (and what they might do next) By Atlantic Council experts James Batchik is an associate director at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, where he supports...
Europe Center Commentary & Analysis
New Atlanticist Feb 4, 2025 The next German chancellor must lead from the front, not the middle, on European security By Rachel Rizzo, James Batchik From support for Ukraine to defense spending, German leaders would be wise to take the phrase Führung aus der Mitte permanently out of their vocabulary.
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