The transatlantic alliance is strong, but in many critical areas cooperation is under strain and like any relation, it needs nurturing in order to thrive. The Transatlantic Institute was born out of a desire, shared by committed Americans and Europeans, to create a tool that could foster research, debate, dialogue and exchange of ideas on policy areas of common concern.

The Middle East tested transatlantic relations more than once in the last seven years. While many other strategic hot-spots pose a constant challenge to fruitful transatlantic cooperation, we at the Transatlantic Institute believe that no crisis has more potential to upset the alliance and that no area is more strategically vital to the transatlantic relation in the near future than this one.

From Iraq to Afghanistan, from 9/11 to the Second Intifadah, from radical Islam to Iran’s nuclear program, from Lebanon to the challenge of democracy in the region, an alliance born in a different age to fight for its survival against totalitarianism today finds itself under pressure.

Our mission is to offer a forum for debate and rigorous research to seek and discuss policy choices and solutions to these challenges. On this website, we will regularly offer insights, analysis, and experts’ opinions on a number of foreign policy issues arising from the Middle East and concerning the future of the transatlantic alliance.

It is a privilege for me to head this project and to welcome you on our website.

                Dr Emanuele Ottolenghi