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

Dec 20, 2018

Top 10 risks of 2019

By Robert A. Manning and Mathew J. Burrows

Unfortunately, 2018 will not go down as a very memorable year in turning the page on the big issues of our time. Trump is right to claim credit for starting a dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jung-un, but even that faces tests—as we outline—in the coming year.

Conflict European Union

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2018

The RUSAL deal: a good outcome?

By Brian O'Toole

Sanctions targeting RUSAL’s founder and now indirect minority shareholder, Oleg Deripaska, worked exactly the way they are supposed to.

Economic Sanctions International Markets

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2018

Trump’s Syria decision poses more questions than answers

By Frederic C. Hof

ISIS has not—contrary to the statement—been militarily terminated in Syria by the anti-ISIS Global Coalition: something to which the United States Department of Defense will attest.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 19, 2018

US preparing to withdraw troops from Syria: what does it mean?

By David A. Wemer

"This will also have positive repercussions for ISIS that still operates in eastern Syria. By the US' own admission, not enough fighters have been trained to stabilize the region after the victory against ISIS." said Mona Alami, Atlantic Council nonresident senior fellow.

Conflict Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2018

Progress toward peace in Yemen, but hard work remains

By Afrah Nasser

To be sure, there are plenty of daunting issues that need to be addressed in order to achieve a lasting peace in Yemen. These issues were not addressed in the talks in Sweden.

Human Rights International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2018

US Syria envoy: Syrian Kurds’ future lies in Syria

By David A. Wemer

With ISIS mainly eradicated from Syria, Special Representative James Jeffrey’s comments could signal the Trump administration’s willingness to weaken its support for the Kurdish groups.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Dec 18, 2018

Here’s what Brexit would mean for the transatlantic relationship

By Peter Ricketts

The goal of Atlanticists on both sides of the pond should be to keep alive the conviction of the founding fathers of NATO that it is profoundly in the national security interests of Britain and the United States to promote a strong multilateral alliance attuned to the security threats of today and tomorrow.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2018

The United States and its allies need to understand China’s North Korea policy

By Taisuke Mibae

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on October 26 marked the first time in seven years that a serving Japanese prime minister has traveled to China for official bilateral meetings with his counterparts. Lost in the headlines of this historic summit was the fact that the two leaders […]

China Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist

Dec 14, 2018

A view From congress

By Ashish Kumar Sen

wo US lawmakers—one serving and another incoming—listed their top national security concerns at the Atlantic Council’s Annual Forum in Washington on December 14.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Dec 14, 2018

Why it will be hard to kill NAFTA if Congress does not approve Trump’s trade deal with Mexico and Canada

By Ashish Kumar Sen

“If the new treaty doesn’t pass, NAFTA will be more resilient and more difficult to kill,” said Jesus Seade, Chief NAFTA negator for Andres Manuel López Obrador, at the Atlantic Council’s Annual Forum in Washington on December 14.

Economy & Business International Markets

Share

Issue briefs and reports