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 to reverse three decades of escalating cyber conflict

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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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.

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

Conflict, Risk, and Tech

Mar 24, 2021

How to reverse three decades of escalating cyber conflict

By Jason Healey and Robert Jervis

Cyber conflict has not yet escalated from a fight inside cyberspace to a more traditional armed attack because of cyberspace. In part, this is because countries understand there are some tacit upper limits to escalation above which the response from the offended country will be war. Unfortunately, this happy state may not last.

Cybersecurity
Technology & Innovation

New Atlanticist

Mar 24, 2021

Why Europe’s future is on the line in the Taiwan Strait

By Philip Anstrén

Policymakers in Brussels should recognize that the EU has significant security interests in the Taiwan Strait, push for dialogue over the issues at stake there, and—if this fails—work with the United States to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan.

China
Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2021

How Russia, China, and climate change are shaking up the Arctic

By Larry Luxner

The Kremlin’s increasing military activities in the Arctic are worrying Norway—the only NATO member country that borders Russia north of the Arctic Circle. Frank Bakke-Jensen, Norway’s minister of defense, outlined his concerns.

Crisis Management
Defense Technologies

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2021

The Arctic is a place of unusual international cooperation. Can that last?

By Larry Luxner

For decades, Norway’s policy towards neighboring Russia has balanced “between deterrence and reassurance” and combined “firmness and predictability,” says Ine Eriksen Søreide, the country’s minister of foreign affairs. “This policy remains unchanged. But it has become an ever more challenging task in the face of a steadily deteriorating security environment.”

Crisis Management
Defense Technologies

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2021

Protecting the world’s trans population requires political representation

By Joseph Rojas, Jr.

There is one group of women that has been left behind in conversations about gender-based issues: trans women. Global leaders must change the narrative to advance a trans-inclusive agenda

Human Rights
Latin America

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2021

Three implications of the US-China confrontation in Anchorage

By Hung Tran

After the meeting in Alaska, sanctions on China's officials, and other key events of the past week, here are three main takeaways.

China
Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2021

What vaccine nationalism and diplomacy tell us about future pandemics

By Hung Tran

Good news: A growing availability of COVID-19 vaccines has cast a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel. Bad news: The world’s experience so far with COVID-19 vaccines has not been very uplifting.

China
Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2021

The US just sent China a message in Alaska

By Barry Pavel

This first clash, with perhaps others to follow, is necessary as the Biden team sees it. It was needed to assure allies of the rock-solid US commitment to protect the mutual interests of like-minded democracies against manifold Chinese challenges.

China
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2021

How to renew the purpose of the US-ROK alliance

By Cheol Hee Park

It is time for the United States and South Korea to revitalize the intrinsic value of their alliance. There are several ways they can do so.

China
Korea

Seizing the advantage

Mar 18, 2021

US national defense strategy and the future of foreign military sales

By Charles W. Hooper

Ongoing great-power competition, US efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships, and the global dominance of the US defense industry will ensure that FMS remains a policy tool of first resort. This being the case, US policymakers need to ensure that it is the most efficient tool that it can be.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

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