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.

The importance of Baltic navies ensuring Baltic Sea security

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

Sep 13, 2019

The importance of Baltic navies ensuring Baltic Sea security

By Adm. James G. Foggo III

The commander of US Naval Forces Europe and Africa and NATO Allied Joint Force Command Naples argues that "a strong alliance of navies will enable us all to maintain the most basic human rights: freedom and safety."

Maritime Security NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 12, 2019

A potential path forward for Hong Kong?

By David A. Wemer

Beijing needs to give the Hong Kong government "some space" to effectively address the concerns of its citizens, former US general consul to Hong Kong Kurt Tong said.

China Rule of Law

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2019

John Bolton out as national security advisor

By David A. Wemer

"John Bolton has advocated for strategies considered extreme within his own administration, ran a dysfunctional and often nonexistent interagency policy making process, and eventually lost the confidence of the president—so it was always only a matter of time before he had to go," said William F. Wechler, director of The Atlantic Council's Middle East Programs.

Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2019

Will a new energy minister shift Saudi oil policy?

By David A. Wemer

“The truth is no one knows if there will be any significant implications from the appointment of Prince Abdulaziz as energy minister," said Ellen Ward, nonresident senior fellow in the Atlantic Council's Global Energy Center.

Oil and Gas Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Sep 6, 2019

Leveraging AI to transform power grid security

By Lukas Trakimavičius

Given our acute dependency on an uninterrupted supply of power, it is hardly surprising that power grids are among the most strategically important pieces of infrastructure for economic and national security alike.

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2019

Purveying arms through carrot and stick

By Sarosh Bana

US arms sales to India have risen more than fivefold over the last five years and now account for 12 per cent of India’s defense imports, according to a recent study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Defense Industry India

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2019

Democratic hopefuls show enhanced dedication to fighting climate crisis

By David A. Wemer

What united all of the candidates was a recognition that climate change would need to be a major focus of the next president.

Climate Change & Climate Action Elections

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Westminster tries to rein Johnson in and avoid no-deal

By David A. Wemer

Arguing that the bill would mean he would lose all leverage with Brussels over a new withdrawal agreement, Johnson said “there is only one way forward for the country…there must now be an election.”

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2019

Rising regionalism: A new trend or an old idea in need of better understanding?

By Richards Kols

The success of regionalism in Europe can be an important example for the nations of Central Asia, who remain hesitant about regional cooperation despite their shared economic, cultural, and geopolitical characteristics, and need for greater internal cohesion.

Central Asia International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 3, 2019

US-Taliban negotiations: How to avoid rushing to failure

By James Dobbins, Robert P. Finn, Ronald E. Neumann, William Wood, John Negroponte, E. Anthony Wayne, Ryan Crocker, James Cunningham, Hugo Llorens

A major troop withdrawal must be contingent on a final peace. The initial US drawdown should not go so far or so fast that the Taliban believe that they can achieve military victory. In that case, they will not make compromises for peace with other Afghan political forces.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

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