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.

COVID-19 will not change Italy’s Euro-Atlantic position, defense minister says

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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New Atlanticist

May 27, 2020

COVID-19 will not change Italy’s Euro-Atlantic position, defense minister says

By Francesco Bechis

"Many countries have shown solidarity toward Italy in an extraordinary situation. We talk to everyone, but the pillars of our security are NATO and the European Union, and these shall remain," Guerini said.

Coronavirus Italy

New Atlanticist

May 27, 2020

The cybersecurity effects of coronavirus

By Derek Bernsen

Since COVID-19 began to spread within the United States in January of this year, the United States has been concentrating its efforts on mitigating the crisis at both a state and federal level. However, all efforts at containing the growing cybersecurity problems have been surface level and reactive at best.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

May 27, 2020

A new era in financial diplomacy: The third evolution of Bretton Woods

By Michael Greenwald

China has made significant waves by introducing its own digital yuan this past month. The United States should turn to its allies for support and cooperation in building an alternative to the Chinese solution for digital currencies.

China Digital Currencies

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2020

EU looks for next step in coronavirus economic response

By Bart Oosterveld

An agreement within the EU to not only jointly issue debt, but to disburse the proceeds of those debt issuances in the form of grants to financially weaker member states, would be an important moment in capital markets.

Coronavirus European Union

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2020

The WTO needs a new DG: No time for business as usual

By Marc L. Busch

Will the WTO finally pick a woman? Which continent “gets” the slot? And does the institution need someone from a developing country? These questions merit attention, but first, it’s time to ask why this isn’t “business as usual.”

International Financial Institutions Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2020

The 5×5—Is it a game or is it real? Simulations and wargaming in cyber

By Simon Handler

Greater insight into risk and response allow public and private sector organizations to better prepare for crisis before it happens and rerun history to stave off defeat in future. Wargames can be complex live events or low-cost simulations. They can even be the basis for major reforms to policy and doctrine, giving us much to understand about them. Shall we play a game?

Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2020

How societies can fight pandemics and climate change at the same time

By David A. Wemer

While many officials worry about their potential bandwidths to deal with two major problems at the same time, Dr. Aaron Bernstein explained that both crises “share the same causes and that means they share the same solutions.”

Climate Change & Climate Action Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2020

Guatemalan president criticizes US over lack of COVID-19 assistance

By Larry Luxner

“Guatemala is an ally of the United States, but I don’t believe the US is an ally to Guatemala, because they don’t treat us like one,” he said. “We’ve seen how they’ve assisted other countries with ventilators, and we haven’t even gotten a dime from them—not even one single mask from the United States. We don’t feel appreciated.”

Central America Coronavirus

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2020

Will COVID-19 exacerbate or defuse conflicts in the Middle East?

By Masoud Mostajabi

With the virus has come the reshuffling of priorities needed to combat the pandemic, casting new light on these long-running conflicts. On May 20, 2020, the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary A. DiCarlo sat down with the Atlantic Council’s Future of Iran Initiative director Barbara Slavin to discuss potential new openings to advance peace in the region.

Coronavirus Middle East

New Atlanticist

May 20, 2020

How the coronavirus impacts Japan’s prospects for constitutional revision

By Mirna Galic

Whether or not the Japanese public will face a choice on revising the constitution in the near future now seems inextricably tied with the coronavirus; either it will scuttle efforts to hold a constitutional referendum before the end of Abe’s term or it will be the impetus for an accelerated effort.

Coronavirus Japan

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