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.

Armenia and Azerbaijan should seize chance for peace

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

Oct 31, 2020

Armenia and Azerbaijan should seize chance for peace

By Matthew Bryza

As fighting intensifies, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan would be wise to embrace the political cover their Russian and Turkish counterparts might provide.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

Elections 2020

Oct 30, 2020

Five big questions as America votes: Europe

By Future Europe Initiative

For the past seven decades, Europe has been the United States’ political, economic, and security partner of first resort. Now, as the transatlantic relationship is challenged by internal and external forces, the EU and the United States find themselves at a crossroads in the relationship.

Coronavirus Digital Policy

Elections 2020

Oct 30, 2020

Either way, this election is a major turning point for our climate future

By Kathy Baughman McLeod

As the nation braces for the presidential election next week, there’s arguably no issue beyond the COVID-19 crisis for which the stakes are higher than climate change policy.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2020

Lithuania’s new government: Women-led coalition wins confidence in difficult times

By Agnia Grigas

The new government will be particularly well positioned to lead Lithuania through the COVID-19 pandemic, achieve needed domestic reforms, and navigate the delicate situation in neighboring Belarus.

Belarus Elections

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

Five big questions as America votes: China

By Asia Security Initiative

As China adopts a more assertive diplomatic, economic, and military footing in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the United States has been accelerating efforts to coordinate a global response to China’s rise.

China Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

The transatlantic alliance needs to work together to gain technological edge

By Katherine Golden

Transatlantic democratic allies must begin working together to develop new technologies like cloud computing and artificial intelligence, to strengthen their collective defense, support democracy, and protect their societies. Here’s a quick look at what NATO, EC, and NSCAI experts said about how a transatlantic alliance for artificial intelligence will impact the geopolitical landscape and protect democracy worldwide.

Defense Technologies Internet

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

US provokes stalemate in WTO DG selection process

By Hung Tran

The competing multilateral and national visions for the WTO and the global trading framework among members will need to be reconciled for the organization to be able to pick a new DG.

International Financial Institutions Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

The 5×5—Trick or threat? The ghouls and goblins behind this year’s cyber incidents

By Simon Handler

This year has witnessed its fair share of unnerving cyber incidents from a range of spooky characters. But 2020 is not over yet. What further ghouls and goblins might lurk? Cyber Statecraft Initiative experts go 5×5 to discuss spine-chilling cyber incidents this Halloween.

Cybersecurity Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2020

Russia sanctions bite and remind us of the value of transatlantic unity

By Juha Rainne

Despite some early hesitation and Moscow’s attempts to discredit them, the sanctions are working. They have had an undeniable effect on the Russian economy, which Moscow cannot overlook in its decision-making.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Russia

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 28, 2020

Afghan First Lady Rula Ghani: Women’s rights cannot be ‘the cost of peace’

By David A. Wemer

The progress Afghan women have made in the years since the fall of the Taliban regime could be at risk, Ghani said, should the Taliban be given too much power as part of a peace settlement.

Afghanistan Civil Society

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