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.

Trump’s India trip comes up empty on trade: What’s next?

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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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

Feb 27, 2020

Trump’s India trip comes up empty on trade: What’s next?

By Mark Linscott

After their failure to get a new deal, the United States and India certainly should turn to other issues in their future engagement on trade. With all of their focus on a handful of issues, mostly involving market access for bilateral trade in goods, the two sides allowed other important issues to fester, and perhaps the best opportunity to begin to develop a record of incremental confidence-building trade outcomes will be found in these areas, such as intellectual property rights, digital services, and better protection and promotion of investment through more transparent and predictable regulatory approaches.

India Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2020

The fox in the henhouse: How bureaucratic processes handicap US military supremacy and what to do about it

By Stephen Rodriguez

Washington’s once unrivaled military strength is now increasingly challenged by that of its adversaries. To stay ahead, the United States must restructure its relationship with commercial companies by reducing regulation that hinders innovation, speed, and the ability for private industry to access government contracts.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2020

The 5×5—The evolution of the internet and geopolitics

By Simon Handler

The internet has been a pivotal force behind the growth of the global digital economy and altered the relationship among states, their citizens, and the private sector. These changes have disrupted the geopolitical balance of power and ushered in a new generation of globally-powerful multinational companies. However, new dynamics of conflict are threatening the internet as we know it.

Cybersecurity Internet

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Feb 24, 2020

Women protest for their lives: Fighting femicide in Latin America

By Isabel Kennon and Grace Valdevitt

Femicide continues to claim the lives of Latin American women on a daily basis. In Mexico, they are standing up to say something about it.

Civil Society Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2020

Iraqi MP: Continued protests provide opportunity for real reform

By Kyle Thetford

The massive protests that have rocked Iraq since October 2019 and have brought down one government have also given the new prime minister designee a unique opportunity to overcome vested interests and deliver meaningful reform, according to Iraqi Council of Representatives Member Sarkawt Shamsulddin.

Democratic Transitions Iraq

New Atlanticist

Feb 21, 2020

Putting privacy limits on national security mass surveillance: The European Court of Justice intervenes

By Kenneth Propp

In a little-noticed set of opinions issued on January 15, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) put forward a bold and unprecedented proposition—mass surveillance conducted by European Union (EU) member state national security services should operate within the bounds of the Union’s privacy laws.

Digital Policy European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 20, 2020

Transatlantic cooperation key to Europe’s Green Deal, EU official says

By David A. Wemer

As the European Union aims to become carbon neutral by the year 2050, cooperation with the United States on energy technology, financing, and imports will be critical to helping transition the European energy sector towards a low-carbon future, Director General for Energy at the European Commission Ditte Juul Jørgensen said on February 20.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Feb 19, 2020

Challenges and opportunities for Croatia’s new president

By Claudia Vaughn Zittle

Croatia’s new president Zoran Milanovic entered office on February 18 with a legacy to build upon and several challenges to overcome. Over the last fifteen years, Croatia has made remarkable progress as a democratic state, joining NATO in 2009 and the European Union (EU) in 2013. Even so, the uncertain future of European integration, uneven economic development, and malign foreign influence present challenges for Croatia and the Balkans region. The United States, other EU members, and NATO allies have a role to play in supporting Croatia’s efforts to tackle these challenges.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2020

The next US-Taliban deal is just one step—and the Afghans must have their say—on the path toward peace in Afghanistan

By James B. Cunningham

The agreement now developing can be a vital first step toward the political solution we have long known is the only way to end the conflict, consistent with the interests of the Afghan people and their international partners. But there will be many more steps to come before that goal is achieved.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2020

Spain’s position on Venezuela jeopardizes unified fight for democracy

By Cristina Guevara

Support shown to the Maduro regime on ideological grounds serves to fuel further polarization, not only in Venezuela, but around the world. Whatever the nature of the relationship between the Maduro regime and Podemos, or ideological commonalities between the two, lending diplomatic support for Maduro is commending a dictatorship.

Democratic Transitions Southern & Southeastern Europe

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