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

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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

Oct 2, 2018

Here’s how to fight disinformation

By David A. Wemer

In the case of the 2016 US election, Russian actors took advantage of a “massively fragmented media market” to promote fake news stories and disseminate stolen material, according to Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Laura Galante.

Disinformation English

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2018

A modernized NAFTA

By Ashish Kumar Sen

In negotiations that went down to the wire, Canada agreed on September 30 to join the United States and Mexico in a revised version of NAFTA. The new agreement will be referred to as the United State-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

Economy & Business Mexico

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2018

Macedonia’s European dream: what next?

By David A. Wemer

“If Macedonia wants to be in NATO and the European Union, it by definition must come to an agreement with its neighbor Greece,” said Damon Wilson, executive vice president of the Atlantic Council.

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2018

Meet the new NAFTA: The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement

By Ashish Kumar Sen

With this breakthrough, Trump has fulfilled his campaign promise to rewrite NAFTA, which he has called “the worst trade deal in history.” The new agreement was negotiated “on the principle of fairness and reciprocity,” said Trump.

Mexico Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2018

Kosovo’s Prime Minister says plan to swap territory with Serbia puts his country’s transatlantic aspirations at risk

By Ashish Kumar Sen

In an interview with the New Atlanticist in Washington on September 28, Haradinaj insisted that the land-swap proposal does not advance Kosovo’s prospects of EU membership.

The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2018

Atlantic Council presents Global Citizen Award to Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg

By Atlantic Council

Solberg and her government have been deeply committed to not only improving the lives of their citizens in Norway, but working to assist people around the world.

Northern Europe Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2018

Atlantic Council presents Global Citizen Award to President of Argentina Mauricio Macri

By Atlantic Council

In nearly three years as president, Mauricio Macri has brought Argentina back as a key regional and world leader, reestablishing credibility through a newly transparent statistics bureau and a reopening to international financial markets.

Latin America

New Atlanticist

Sep 27, 2018

The New Atlanticist Quiz: September 27, 2018

By Atlantic Council

Think you know what was going on in the world this week? Take the New Atlanticist Quiz to find out! Check back at the New Atlanticist homepage for future quizzes and the latest analysis and opinion on international news from our experts. Need to improve your score? Make sure you are signed up for our […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 27, 2018

IMF throws Argentina a $57 billion lifeline

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Argentina’s economy has been battered by a run on the peso, double-digit inflation, and a severe drought that has impacted crop yields in one of the world’s largest exporters of soybean and corn.

International Financial Institutions Latin America

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2018

Trump accuses China of meddling in midterms. It’s all about trade.

By David A. Wemer

Trump offered no specific evidence of China’s purported “meddling” during his speech, but tied it directly to the trade issue, saying Beijing wants him to lose “because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade and we are winning on trade.”

China Trade and tariffs

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