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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

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 10, 2019

Political gridlock in Moldova

By David A. Wemer

Although representatives from the pro-Russia Socialist Party and the pro-European Union ACUM bloc reached an agreement on June 8 to form a coalition government, the deal was challenged by the Democratic Party, which argued to the Constitutional Court that it was formalized after the official deadline, meaning snap elections needed to be called.

Democratic Transitions Elections

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2019

A close call: US and Russian ships avoid collision

By David A. Wemer

The near collision of US and Russian warships in the Philippine Sea on June 7 is just the latest close call between the two nations’ militaries that have increasingly found themselves in tense encounters around the globe. While a crisis was averted, the next time may be different.

Maritime Security Russia

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2019

Washington’s WTO frustrations a key stumbling block in transatlantic trade ties

By Bart Oosterveld

The Trump administration has decided to significantly escalate tensions on WTO governance issues given these longer standing concerns, as well as given high-profile cases in front of the WTO that directly affect the EU-US trade relationship.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2019

US-European trade talks stall

By Bart Oosterveld

Deep integration of trade and economies aside, several longstanding economic dynamics affect the transatlantic relationship and hinder its expansion.

Economy & Business European Union

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jun 7, 2019

Gender equality has a vital role to play in protecting our oceans

By Peter Thomson and Isabella Lövin

To solve the challenges facing the oceans, gender parity has to be embedded in the solutions.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2019

Can the United States and China cooperate in the Middle East?

By David A. Wemer

While the United States and China grapple over trade, intellectual property rights, technology transfer, and geopolitical tensions in East Asia, open competition has not yet extended to the Middle East, a region where Washington remains a major player and Beijing has rapidly expanded its influence.

China Middle East

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2019

Quiz: A week for remembrance

By Atlantic Council

The world took time to pause this week to mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in World War II and the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown.

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2019

Reaching one billion people in ten years: We have to try

By Kathy Baughman McLeod

At the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, with our partners, we will fight for that clarity and imagination and do all we can to meaningfully improve people’s lives and build a more resilient world.

Resilience

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2019

India’s first LGBT Chamber of Commerce: Lessons for the global economic ecosystem

By Phil Crehan and Aarthy Madanagopal

The launch of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce in India provides tremendous space to craft an economic ecosystem that works for all and illuminates global patterns that can better promote LGBT economic empowerment everywhere.

India Resilience & Society

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2019

Israel’s political meltdown

By Shalom Lipner

Six nail-biting weeks after he was first tasked by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to construct Israel's next government, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was forced to concede defeat and admit that he had failed to cobble together a new ruling coalition.

Elections Israel

Share

Issue briefs and reports