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.

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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Feature

Sep 14, 2020

Europe after COVID

By Clément Beaune

A few weeks after the groundbreaking budget agreement adopted by the European Council on July 21, it would be tempting to say that COVID-19 changed everything in the European Union, in line with the oft-repeated principle: “It takes a crisis for Europe to act.” Like all clichés, there is some truth in this statement.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2020

Regulatory combat: Export controls as ammunition against national security threats

By Annie Froehlich

The Department of Commerce's actions could deliver a significant blow to Huawei, but they also merit attention for the resulting compliance challenges and burdens facing industry.

China Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2020

New US Hong Kong tax treaty suspension sends important signal, despite the costs

By Barbara C. Matthews

Eliminating the favorable tax treatment and requiring “made in China” labels at least provide a visible and concrete mechanism to articulate objections regarding Chinese policy without exerting significant economic pain on the people of Hong Kong, China, or the United States

China Financial Regulation

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Sep 14, 2020

COVID-19 has revealed the cost of disrupted education and child care inequality

By Nicole Goldin

Out of this COVID-19 crisis comes the opportunity to reimagine education to better supply today’s young generation with the skills to meet the demands of an even more rapidly changing economy; and to recognize and mitigate the burdens of care, disproportionately faced by women, to increase productivity and facilitate economic participation.

Coronavirus Women

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2020

Mobilizing the Free World to advance public health

By Carl J. Schramm and Henrik Fogh Rasmussen

The COVID-19 crisis has proven beyond all doubt that America and its democratic allies lack essential resiliency against pandemics. Now is the time to change this unacceptable state of affairs through innovative approaches to biodefense, economic development, and trade.

Coronavirus International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2020

India’s growing hostility towards Chinese technology shifts landscape of US-China data and cloud competition

By Justin Sherman and Lily Liu

US and Chinese tech companies, including in the cloud computing space, are competing for users within India. As the Indian government’s relations with Beijing change, so too does the landscape of this technological battleground.

China Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2020

From coronavirus to Mediterranean tensions, Italy has stepped up its diplomatic game during dramatic year, foreign minister says

By Francesco Bechis and Valeria Covato

Despite the many difficulties, Di Maio is confident that Rome has seized the moment and provided “new impulse to Italy’s international profile and credibility.”

China Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2020

Should trade be more strategic?

By Mark Linscott

The current approach by the Trump administration risks weaponizing international trade and ignoring valuable opportunities to both strengthen US commercial interests and further strategic objectives.

India Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2020

Celebrating the ‘impeccable integrity and unbounded courage’ of Brent Scowcroft

By Atlantic Council

On August 22, a memorial service was held to honor the life and legacy of General Brent Scowcroft. These are a collection of tributes from those who worked with Brent Scowcroft and knew him as a mentor and friend.

Elections 2020

Sep 9, 2020

The Indian American voter in 2020

By Safiya Ghori-Ahmad and Fatima Salman

Until 2016, the majority of the roughly 4 million Indian American voters skewed towards the Democratic Party, much has changed since the Obama years, including the presence of the Republican Party’s efforts with this demographic.

Elections India

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