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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.

Europe’s new normal: Turning the migrant challenge into an opportunity

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.

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Europe’s new normal: Turning the migrant challenge into an opportunity

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

Europe’s new normal: Turning the migrant challenge into an opportunity

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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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.

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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.

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Content

New Atlanticist

Sep 7, 2018

Europe’s new normal: Turning the migrant challenge into an opportunity

By Pete Seat

With inhospitable temperatures across North Africa and Central Asia, constant war and conflict in Middle East hot spots, and the advance of authoritarian regimes, today’s refugees don’t represent a temporary conundrum, but rather a new normal of European life.

Climate Change & Climate Action Conflict

New Atlanticist

Sep 6, 2018

One of NATO’s best communicators has some parting advice for the Alliance: Speak up!

By Teri Schultz

Jamie Shea, retiring NATO Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, expects the near-term future to be the Alliance's "most challenging period."

NATO Security & Defense

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
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