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.

NATO’s new window to the south

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.

Read More

NATO’s new window to the south

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

NATO’s new window to the south

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

Subscribe to our daily newsletter to receive the best expert intelligence on world-changing events


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.

Read more

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.

Read more

Markup

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

Read more

Content

New Atlanticist

Aug 15, 2018

NATO’s new window to the south

By Colin Wall

When it comes to addressing challenges in NATO’s south, such as destabilizing migration flows, terrorism, and general instability in the region, however, the Alliance has often struggled to demonstrate the same sense of strategic focus.

NATO

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2018

Can lowering trade barriers fuel American energy exports to Europe?

By Barbara C. Matthews, Earl Anthony Wayne, and Richard Morningstar

The EU’s efforts to diversify its energy imports through increased reliance on American LNG exports therefore presents a geo-strategic opportunity to increase energy and political security in Europe and bolster the transatlantic relationship in the process.

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2018

Mandatory standards are critical to protecting US elections

By Heather Regnault

Russian government hackers have gained access to systems that represent America’s most cherished institution—the democratic vote.

Cybersecurity Elections

New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2018

The Ohrid Group: Now is the time

By Atlantic Council

We see this as a “now or never” moment for your country, for you, and for your children’s’ future. Your government and the Greek government were not negotiating as yesterday’s rivals but as tomorrow’s friends.

Elections NATO

New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2018

Loose ends of a deal

By Pinar Dost

For the first four years of the war, Turkey handled the crisis on its own without much international support and assistance. Today, it is much harder to do that.

European Union Migration

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2018

Trump extends feud with Turkey: Now what?

By David Wemer

What does this escalation mean for US-Turkey relations and what should Washington and Ankara do from here?

Economic Sanctions Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2018

Atlantic Council Looks Back on 2008 Russia-Georgia War

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council commemorated the ten-year anniversary of the 2008 Russia-Georgia war with a series of pieces looking at the impact of the war and the unsettled geopolitical situation today. Here is a look back at the pieces which ran from August 7 until August 9:

Russia The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2018

The Russo-Georgian War’s lesson: Russia will strike again

By Ariel Cohen

Let the tenth anniversary of the Russo-Georgian conflict serve as a somber warning both to us and to our European allies: Si vis pacem, para bellum -- “if you want peace, prepare for war”.

Conflict Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2018

Trump’s Iran Sanctions Are Back: Will They Work?

By Brian O'Toole

On Monday, US President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order detailing the framework for re-imposing sanctions on Iran, which were lifted under the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) nuclear deal, with the goal of getting Iran back to the table to negotiate a deal covering not just Iran’s nuclear weapons program, but also […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Aug 9, 2018

The West Should Stand Stronger With Georgia

By Mamuka Tsereteli

Ten years ago, Russia invaded Georgia, burning and ethnically cleansing the villages of the Tskhinvali region and occupying and recognizing the regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Moscow’s immediate objective was to limit the sovereign right of Georgia to resist the corrupt, backward, and technologically obsolete Russian political and economic system, and, instead, join the transatlantic political, military, and […]

Russia The Caucasus
Load More