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-Xi meeting at the G20: An opportunity to calm a trade war

New Atlanticist
Mar 6, 2025

How European leaders are responding to Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Europe

From London and Berlin to Paris and Brussels, European leaders have taken several notable steps this week on security. This follows the blow-up between the Ukrainian and US presidents on February 28.

New Atlanticist
Feb 26, 2025

Why the US should not lift sanctions against Russia

By
Charles Lichfield

Sanctions are having an unmistakable effect, albeit below the inflated expectations of many in the West in early 2022. Lifting them now would be a mistake.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist
Mar 5, 2025

The Egyptian plan for postwar Gaza is a good starting point—but it needs changes

By
Thomas S. Warrick

While many obstacles remain, the Egyptian proposal could form the starting point for negotiations over a workable plan for postwar Gaza.

Conflict
Crisis Management

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Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2018

Trump-Xi meeting at the G20: An opportunity to calm a trade war

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The worst case is if Trump insists on more tariffs. The US trade deficit is higher than ever and the reason is the dollar is stronger than it has been in a long time. That is one of the fundamentals determining trade deficits. Trump thinks it is all bad trade deals.

China G20

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2018

The West has an opportunity, yet again, to push Back against Russia

By Mamuka Tsereteli

Russia’s deep commercial interests in the Black Sea provide a powerful leverage that the United States and its allies must be willing to use.

Russia The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

Nov 28, 2018

Is another Trump-Putin meeting a good idea?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Daniel Fried, a distinguished fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Future Europe Initiative and the Eurasia Center, said: “A meeting would make sense if, but only if, Trump is willing to send the right message to Putin, and the president’s track record doesn’t lead to confidence.”

Politics & Diplomacy Russia

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 28, 2018

Trump is correct, May’s Brexit deal would make a US-UK trade agreement highly unlikely

By Álvaro Morales Salto-Weis

With his comments, Trump has brought increased attention to a significant weakness of May’s Brexit plan, namely the inability of the UK to craft its own trade policy.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Bremain vs Brexit

Nov 27, 2018

Brexit: The road ahead

By Bart Oosterveld and Álvaro Morales Salto-Weis

Successfully navigating these perilous waters would be an impressive feat for May. If she succeeds, she would have quelled internal opposition and boosted her mandate to negotiate the long-term EU-UK relationship after the UK officially leaves the EU on March 29, 2019.

European Union Eurozone

New Atlanticist

Nov 27, 2018

A pivotal year ahead for Afghanistan

By Omar Samad

Reaching consensus inside Afghanistan on a shared vision and inclusive plan of action, while rebuilding an international consensus that views the country as a regional platform for cooperation and connector for economic integration, are essential prerequisites for a successful political settlement.

Afghanistan Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2018

Beware the lure of sanctions for Russia’s latest aggression

By Brian O'Toole

While sanctions may be useful to threaten Russia to rectify this situation, any imposition of them needs to be more strategically deployed—ideally with the EU—and lifted only for more strategic gains, vice resolution of this specific incident.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2018

Another Ukraine crisis tests US resolve

By Mark David Simakovsky

The United States should also work quickly and quietly to engage both the Russian and Ukrainian governments on the incident, warning them of the risks of further provocations and the need to find a way to ensure full and responsible Ukrainian access to its cities on the Sea of Azov.

Economic Sanctions Maritime Security

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2018

An opportunity for the EU to give Ukraine a helping hand

By András Tóth-Czifra

Ultimately, EU leaders should keep in mind that in Ukraine, just as in other countries of the EU’s neighborhood, the EU has a normative, not a geopolitical battle to win.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Nov 26, 2018

Deal or no deal? The perils of extricating the UK from the EU

By Iain Begg

What happens next? The immediate challenge for May is to have the withdrawal deal endorsed in a parliamentary vote, expected to be held in mid-December.

European Union International Organizations

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