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.

Five takeaways from Latin America’s presidential elections in 2018

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

Dec 13, 2018

Five takeaways from Latin America’s presidential elections in 2018

By Valentina Sader

The next four years are an opportunity for each government to implement reforms necessary for the growth and development of the region’s three largest democracies.

Brazil Colombia

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2018

The negative consequences of Putin’s strategy

By George Tsereteli

“Building up tension and hysteria is not our way… We are not creating problems for anyone.” Leaving aside the sheer absurdity of this statement, the fact is that [Russian President Vladimir Putin] has created quite a few problems for himself.

Conflict Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2018

British Prime Minister Theresa May: victorious but still trapped in a minefield

By John M. Roberts

The next mines she must avoid are the timing of a vote on the Brexit agreement she reached with the European Union in November and demands for a vote of no confidence in her government in the House of Commons.

Eurozone Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2018

May Survives Confidence Vote, Brexit Faces an Uncertain Future

By David A. Wemer

British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a dramatic challenge to her leadership during a Conservative Party vote on December 12, but she still must find a way to pass the Brexit agreement she negotiated with the European Union through a skeptical Parliament. Serious concerns about how to keep the border between the Republic of Ireland […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2018

A path forward in Afghanistan

By Bharath Gopalaswamy and James B. Cunningham

There is an opportunity to bring the conflict in Afghanistan to an end, but doing so will require time, commitment, and an effort commensurate to the task.

Afghanistan Conflict

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2018

#StrongerWithAllies: Polish major enlists his personal drone in his unit’s mission

By Hal Foster

Podhorodecki posts his drone footage to YouTube and to the Facebook page that his three-person public affairs team set up to promote the 12th Mechanized.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2018

Brexit and the Irish Backstop: the fear that dare not speak its name

By John M. Roberts

Responding to comments from a plethora of critics in the wake of her statement, May told Parliament on December 10 that the British government “retains its commitment to the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and the commitments the government made within that agreement.”

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2018

Why the Irish border matters

By Dan Haverty and Brendan Reaney

It remains unclear if the withdrawal agreement May has reached with Brussels will impact the life of her government, but it is clear that the Irish border has impacted the Brexit debate and will force the prime minister to turn to her party’s rivals to push the deal through Parliament.

Democratic Transitions Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2018

Why human rights matter

By Iain Levine

Even the most basic value that underpins human rights—that every human life has equal worth—is threatened by those who talk and tweet of “the other” in ways that question their very humanity.

Civil Society Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2018

OPEC attempts to recast its relationship with the United States

By Randolph Bell and Reed Blakemore

Though previous US administrations have taken an interest in OPEC and oil prices, Trump’s consumer-oriented approach to the oil market—and his willingness to use his Twitter account to advocate for that approach—has made always-difficult OPEC negotiations that much more challenging.

International Organizations Oil and Gas

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