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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.

Will Sweden’s elections lead to NATO membership?

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.

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Will Sweden’s elections lead to NATO membership?

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

Will Sweden’s elections lead to NATO membership?

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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Content

New Atlanticist

Sep 6, 2018

Will Sweden’s elections lead to NATO membership?

By Anna Wieslander

The deteriorating security situation in the Baltic Sea region since 2014 has spurred collaboration even further. Sweden and Finland are nowadays as interoperable with NATO as most other allies.

Elections NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 6, 2018

Five opportunities for Latin America

By Maria Fernanda Perez Arguello

The disruption of global trade flows by the dueling trends of liberalization and protectionism may provide an opportunity for some Latin American governments to pursue politically difficult modernization agendas.

International Organizations Latin America

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2018

Trump picks Zalmay Khalilzad, Atlantic Council board director, as special representative on Afghanistan

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Khalilzad’s appointment is a “good sign that the administration recognizes that if it’s going to be serious about trying to achieve a negotiated settlement, that requires having some real diplomatic muscle applied to the task,” said Laurel E. Miller, a senior foreign policy expert at the RAND Corporation.

Afghanistan Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 5, 2018

Russian Sovereign debt in the crosshairs

By Brian O'Toole and Josh Rudolph

McCain was right. As noted before, inconsistent words and actions have precluded the Trump administration from establishing a sufficient deterrence to Russian aggression.

Economic Sanctions Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2018

US-Pakistan dialogue of the deaf

By Shuja Nawaz

The United States has been down this road before: trying to bully Pakistan into doing things that do not appear to suit Pakistan’s regional interests.

Afghanistan Extremism

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2018

Europe cannot save the Iran deal, but it must try

By Cornelius Adebahr

Europe, in short, does not have the political power to defend the Iran deal with Washington gone rogue on its commitment. It cannot keep up economic ties against US pressure, much as policymakers in Iran demand precisely that.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 4, 2018

2+2 dialogue offers the United States and India an opportunity

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

New Delhi and Washington remain at odds over the Trump administration’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Iranian oil exports.

Geopolitics & Energy Security India

New Atlanticist

Sep 3, 2018

Dispelling the dominant myths of China in Africa

By Aubrey Hruby

Foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in technology, and small and medium enterprise diffusion are critical parts of China’s 2.0 approach to the continent.

Africa China

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2018

The war in Syria: Idlib in the crosshairs

By Ashish Kumar Sen

An assault on Idlib would trigger an even greater humanitarian catastrophe as there are few safe spaces inside Syria to which civilians can be evacuated.

Conflict Russia

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2018

Imagining a world without NATO

By Michael Rühle

The end of NATO would mean the end of a unique institutionalized political and military link between Europe and North America—with consequences that range from merely uncomfortable to outright dangerous.

European Union NATO
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