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.

Increase NATO’s operational reach: Expanding the NATO SOF network

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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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

Jun 5, 2020

Increase NATO’s operational reach: Expanding the NATO SOF network

By Thang Q. Tran

NATO cannot safeguard the coalition’s interests unilaterally. Strategic investments in NATO Special Operations Forces (SOF) to expand the NATO SOF Network will provide political and military leaders the full range of options in response to emerging threats—both hybrid and conventional—through strong partnerships within the Alliance and with partners.

Defense Policy NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2020

What Donald Trump has failed to understand about America

By Daniel Fried

The president’s ongoing failure of leadership at home in the wake of Floyd’s death may at first glance appear to have little to do with another development in recent days: his casual but telling expressed interest in inviting Russia’s despotic president, Vladimir Putin, to the Group of Seven (G-7) summit later this year. But they share an origin: Trump’s failure to understand America’s character as a nation forged in common values rather than common blood, and therefore his corresponding failure to appreciate the American worldview derived from that unusual identity.

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

New Atlanticist

Jun 3, 2020

Data flows across the Channel: The emerging UK-EU digital trade relationship

By Kenneth Propp

If the United Kingdom can navigate a way forward on data transfers with both its ex-masters in Brussels and its ally in Washington, its success might ultimately yield benefits beyond these two bilateral trade contexts.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2020

Costa Rica legalized same-sex marriage. Where does the rest of Latin America stand on marriage equality?

By Isabel Kennon

As Costa Rica becomes the first in Central America to take this step toward equality, it remains to be seen who will be next to turn the Inter-American Court on Human Rights’ opinion into action.

Civil Society Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2020

Why the Atlantic Council’s mission begins at home: “A single garment of destiny”

By Frederick Kempe

For the Atlantic Council, how we respond as a community goes to the heart of our mission of “shaping the global future together.” We can bring the free world together most effectively if we act to become more exemplary in our own behavior. These terrible days have lessons both for the United States, the country in which most of us live, and for the Atlantic Council and its like-minded global community.

Resilience & Society United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2020

The UK is forging a 5G club of democracies to avoid reliance on Huawei

By Justin Sherman

As the need for alternatives to Huawei 5G technology becomes more urgent, democracies must pursue these kinds of diplomatic, coalition solutions. Forming a democratic 5G alliance is a step in that direction.

China Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2020

Hurricane season, COVID-19 pose twin threats to vulnerable Caribbean islands

By Larry Luxner

This year, the Caribbean must not only prepare for devastating storms, but also confront COVID-19, stretching scarce financial resources even thinner.

Americas Climate Change & Climate Action

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2020

The role of Russia and the Russian language in post-Karimov Uzbekistan

By Jennifer Murtazashvili

Hardening on language policy at the expense of the Russian language is a significant reversal from Karimov’s tacit encouragement of pluralism.

Central Asia Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2020

NATO’s role in a transatlantic strategy on China

By Ian Brzezinski

NATO can be an effective forum for Allies to share awareness of China's capabilities and activities, develop a transatlantic security strategy regarding China, and pool capacities for engagement and deterrence.

China NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2020

The world order will need a post-COVID rethink, Turkish VP says

By David A. Wemer

Oktay stressed that the world has changed dramatically since the onset of the pandemic, and will provide opportunities and challenges that all world leaders should be careful not to ignore.

Coronavirus Politics & Diplomacy

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