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.

Feed the Future: After a decade of success, let’s make it better

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

Oct 1, 2020

Feed the Future: After a decade of success, let’s make it better

By Daniel V. Speckhard

Feed the Future stands in the tradition of bipartisan foreign aid initiatives that have made a significant impact. Let’s seize this opportunity to improve the lives of even more families around the world by doubling down on our commitment to Feed the Future.

Resilience Resilience & Society

Elections 2020

Sep 30, 2020

How Pete Buttigieg sees the US restoring its credibility in the world

By David A. Wemer

“America cannot move forward in the way that we need to without cooperation with our partners and allies around the world,” Buttigieg maintained, especially with the pressing challenges of a rising China, climate change, and the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Sep 30, 2020

Nepal in the face of intersectional crises: A history of mismanagement

By Capucine Querenet

Nepal’s poor governance track record—characterized by inadequate leadership after the 2015 earthquake, a divided ruling party, corruption and mishandling of funds by the government, and questionable governance practices by the prime minister—not only puts the population at a disadvantage in weathering the pandemic, but it also may deal additional blows to the country’s health and economic wellbeing.

Civil Society Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Sep 30, 2020

Relaunching the transatlantic trade agenda: a European perspective

By Emilie Bel

A new transatlantic partnership will be necessary whatever the result of the US election because the EU-US trade relationship, the European and US approach to multilateralism, and the global balance of power have changed.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Elections 2020

Sep 29, 2020

Making sense of foreign interference claims on the eve of the 2020 US election

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

The DFRLab launches an interactive, open-source database that captures allegations of foreign interference relevant to the 2020 election. It assesses the credibility, objectivity, evidence, transparency, and impact of each claim.

Disinformation Elections

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2020

Tackling the China threat with economic statecraft

By David Mortlock

Decoupling the US and Chinese economies does little to address the more fundamental threat posed by China’s efforts to rewrite the global rulebook.

China Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2020

Three Seas Initiative could help jumpstart Europe’s post-COVID recovery and green economy transformation

By David A. Wemer

Buoyed by a new commercially managed investment fund and a $1 billion pledge from the United States, leaders from the Three Seas Initiative will convene for a summit on October 19 to move the project into its next stage.

Central Europe Climate Change & Climate Action

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2020

Government response to economic crisis now is pivotal—but will risk future financial stability

By Hung Tran

Governments deploying economic and financial support measures have been able to protect from a major pandemic era crisis, but the emergency measures have entrenched inefficiencies, imbalances, and vulnerabilities that suggest a future financial crisis.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2020

Economic and financial risks after the pandemic

By Hung Tran

While huge fiscal and monetary support measures from governments have been necessary to avoid deeper damages being done to the economy and financial system by the pandemic, those actions—especially keeping interest rates low for long—have also reinforced many known areas of inefficiencies, imbalances, and vulnerabilities that will make the economy and financial system fragile and prone to crises going forward.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Elections 2020

Sep 29, 2020

Five big questions as America votes: Middle East

By Middle East Programs

In every US presidential election since the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Middle East and North Africa has been a top foreign policy issue. The 2020 presidential election is no different.

Conflict Crisis Management

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