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.

How Russia made Apple and Google complicit in its internet crackdown

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

Sep 17, 2021

How Russia made Apple and Google complicit in its internet crackdown

By Dylan Myles-Primakoff, Justin Sherman

Just as voting opened in Russia, Apple and Google deleted an app from their stores published by Alexei Navalny's team designed to deliver candidate recommendations. Here's why that signals an international problem.

Cybersecurity Elections

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2021

Now is the time to recognize the genocide in Burma

By Rehman Chishti and Knox Thames

A genocide designation would present a new avenue through which to punish the Burmese military.

Crisis Management Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2021

What these Russian elections will reveal about the Kremlin’s power

By Brian Whitmore

They're the last big test for the Kremlin before the 2024 presidential election.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

Fast Thinking

Sep 16, 2021

FAST THINKING: Can Australian nuclear subs help corner China?

By Atlantic Council

What impact will this deal have on competition with China? What about the allies left high and dry? Our experts emerged from the deep with the answers.

Australia China

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2021

Experts react: The US, UK, and Australia struck a nuclear submarine deal. What does it mean?

By Atlantic Council

The pact, known as AUKUS, is a clear challenge to China in the Indo-Pacific and a deepening of military ties among close allies of more than a century.

Australia Defense Industry

Fast Thinking

Sep 15, 2021

FAST THINKING: Missiles are flying again on the Korean peninsula

By Atlantic Council

Is nuclear diplomacy with the North all but dead? How worried should we be about these missiles?

Arms Control Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2021

Afghanistan’s ex-central bank chief: The Taliban has money to ‘run an insurgency but not a government’

By Dan Peleschuk

At an Atlantic Council event, Ajmal Ahmady discussed how the Taliban must govern a country short on cash and mired in multiple crises.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2021

Confronting the disaster left behind in Afghanistan

By Mir Sadat

The United States screwed up the endgame in Afghanistan once again, but working with allies and private rescue efforts, there's time to make things right.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2021

Gregory Meeks: For counterterrorism and economic opportunity, turn toward Africa

By Katherine Golden

After the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, it has become clear that “terrorism now is global, and we’ve got to work in a multilateral way to combat and fight that,” said US Representative Gregory Meeks.

Afghanistan Africa

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2021

Sanctions alone won’t tame the Taliban

By Brian O’Toole

The United States and its allies will need to wield both existing and new sanctions as strategically as possible, but changing the regime's behavior will be difficult.

Afghanistan Economic Sanctions

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