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.

What’s left to sanction in Russia? Wallets, stocks, and foreign investments.

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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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 9, 2022

What’s left to sanction in Russia? Wallets, stocks, and foreign investments.

By Brian O’Toole, Daniel Fried

There are still some tools left for the West to escalate sanctions against Russia in response to its aggression against Ukraine—including an Iran-style approach.

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

PRIPYAT, UKRAINE FEBRUARY, 2022: Pictured in this video screen grab is the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. Russian Airborne troops and the Ukrainian National Guard are providing security at the nuclear power plant. An agreement has been reached with servicemen of a separate battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine to jointly provide security at the units, the confinement and the storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant staff continue to monitor the radiation levels and work at the nuclear power plant as normal. Video grab. Best possible quality. Russian Defence Ministry/TASS

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2022

Russian War Report: Russia escalates nuclear and chemical false-flag allegations

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

On March 9, Russia escalated their claims that Ukraine intended to use nuclear or biological weapons against Russia and that capturing nuclear power plants were to "prevent" such attempts.

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 9, 2022

Biden’s Russian oil ban: Slick, or nothing special?

By Randolph Bell, Reed Blakemore, and Charles Lichfield

Our experts break down the new US move against Russia's energy industry, from its impact on global oil prices to the pressure it puts in Europe.

Energy & Environment European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2022

Swedish foreign minister: Women, girls disproportionately affected by conflict

By Katherine Golden

Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde spoke at the Atlantic Council on International Women's Day about supporting Ukrainian women and girls and advocating for feminist foreign policy globally.

Conflict Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 8, 2022

Memo to the G7: Your economic stability goals won’t be achieved without women

By Nicole Goldin

On this International Women's Day, the world's major economies should remember that investing in women's economic empowerment lifts up societies more broadly.

Economy & Business Inclusive Growth

Igor Kirillov, Chief of the Radiation, Chemical and Biological Protection Troops of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2022

Russian War Report: Kremlin recycles old narratives to claim Ukraine is constructing dirty bombs and bioweapons

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

In a further attempt to justify its invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin once again accused Ukraine of provoking Russia by developing dirty bombs and biological weapons.

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2022

A new era for NATO has begun

By Admiral Rob Bauer

On a political and on a military level, NATO is closer than ever—and readier than ever.

Conflict European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2022

A new-look prime minister’s office is an opportunity to achieve ‘Global Britain’

By Francis Shin and Alex Urwin

The fall of Kabul and the Russian invasion of Ukraine underscore why Boris Johnson must ensure that his restructured office restores his country as a leading international player.

Europe & Eurasia Political Reform

Belarusian protesters from the organization Women of Minsk openly protest the invasion of Ukraine. (Source: @Tsihanouskaya/Twitter)

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2022

Russian War Report: Global crackdown on Russian state-affiliated media continues as Russia blocks Facebook

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

In response to the invasion of Ukraine, governments and corporations have implemented new regulations and policies to mitigate the reach of Russian state-affiliated media within their borders and on their services.

Belarus Conflict

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2022

To decipher Putin’s nuclear threats, watch what he does—not what he says

By Matthew Kroenig, Mark J. Massa, Alyxandra Marine

For years, Moscow has made nuclear weapons a centerpiece of its military doctrine. The West must not capitulate.

Conflict Nuclear Deterrence

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