New Atlanticist

Sharp insights and bold ideas from across the Council

From climate change to the China challenge and the contest between democracy and dictatorship, the New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challenges—and the US role in addressing them alongside allies and partners.

The Council’s flagship section features big ideas, groundbreaking research, lightning-fast expert reactions, in-depth analyses, and thought-provoking commentary to shape public policy.

Russia Crisis Military Assessment: Russia is forced to make a major shift in strategy

New Atlanticist Sep 4, 2025

Dispatches from Damascus: The state of Syria’s postwar transition nine months after Assad’s fall

On a recent trip to the Syrian capital, Atlantic Council experts took note of how far the country has come since the Assad regime’s fall and what still needs to happen to secure peace and prosperity.

New Atlanticist Aug 29, 2025

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council experts

August saw a flurry of diplomatic activity to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As September nears, Atlantic Council experts share their insights on what to expect next.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

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Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

Markup

Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2022

Russia Crisis Military Assessment: Russia is forced to make a major shift in strategy

By Atlantic Council military fellows

The main Russian effort is now in the Donbas, where Russia will continue to send reinforcements and resupply in the hope of building on (and consolidating) small gains on the ground.

Conflict NATO

A Russian tank spotted in southern Belarus. (Source: @tendar/euroradio)

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2022

Russian War Report: Contradictory reports of Russian vehicles returning to Belarus

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Russian forces seen returning to Belarus, Telegram channels undermining peace talks with Ukraine, and how Russians continue using banned social media.

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2022

Central Europe leads the way in backing Ukraine. Here’s its game plan for what’s next.

By Petr Tůma

The European Union’s eastern members have an opportunity to prove their political and diplomatic mettle—and they're seizing it.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2022

German defense minister: ‘We cannot look away or stand apart’ on Ukraine

By Brian McGee

Germany is committed to stepping up in global efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia, German Minister of Defense Christine Lambrecht said at an Atlantic Council Front Page event.

Conflict Crisis Management

Event Recap

Mar 29, 2022

What the Baltic presidents want the West to do now against Russia

By Nick Fouriezos

Estonian President Alar Karis, Latvian President Egils Levits, and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, proposed a number of options to counter Russian aggression at an Atlantic Council Front Page event Tuesday.

Conflict Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2022

Europe should take aim at its true data threat: Russia

By Kenneth Propp

Over the past decade, the EU's data overseers have focused almost monomaniacally on the United States. Russia's war in Ukraine shows why that is the wrong approach.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Mar 29, 2022

Putin’s ruble ploy confirms that energy exports are his lifeline

By Charles Lichfield

Western allies can only 'reduce the ruble to rubble' by dramatically reducing oil and gas imports.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2022

Russian War Report: Additional units from Georgian breakaway regions join Russian offensive

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Soldiers from the Georgian breakaway region of Abkhazia are confirmed to be providing military support for Russian forces in Ukraine.

Belarus Conflict

Global Energy Forum

Mar 28, 2022

Meet the global leaders powering the world’s energy transition

By Atlantic Council

The return of pre-pandemic energy consumption, threats of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, crises across Europe, and more have dampened hopes for a swift energy transition. But global energy leaders are no less determined.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2022

Russia’s space weapons may be the next frontier in the Ukraine conflict

By Christopher P. Mulder

Here’s a look at Russia’s possible range of space weapons and how the West can respond, both to blunt attacks and hold Moscow accountable.

Defense Technologies Missile Defense

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