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

Sep 20, 2018

Remembering reginald dale

By David A. Wemer

At the Atlantic Council, Dale was the director of the Transatlantic Media Network, which gave annual fellowships for European journalists to come visit and work in the United States.

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2018

Testing North Korea’s nuclear offer

By Ashish Kumar Sen

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has agreed to dismantle missile facilities in the presence of international inspectors and take steps toward denuclearization—provided the United States takes “corresponding measures.”

Japan Korea

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2018

President Bush backs Macedonia in NATO, urges participation in historic referendum

By Damon Wilson

This may be a now-or-never moment for Macedonia. Its failure to gain accession to NATO in 2008 ushered in a decade of stagnation and political crisis, which the country is poised to overcome.

NATO The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2018

Rick Perry to Europe: Energy security tantamount to national security

By David A. Wemer

Europe’s dependence on Russian natural gas “is truly a cause for concern,” Perry said in remarks at the closing session of the Three Seas Initiative’s Business Forum in Bucharest on September 18.

Central Europe Geopolitics & Energy Security

New Atlanticist

Sep 18, 2018

More shots fired in US-China trade war

By Ashish Kumar Sen

This is what a trade war looks like. On September 18, hours after US President Donald J. Trump announced his decision to impose 10 percent tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports, China struck back. Beijing retaliated immediately, announcing tariffs on an additional $60 billion in US imports. The new Chinese tariffs will target […]

China

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2018

Trump’s trade war unlikely to end soon

By David A. Wemer

“A deal with China before the midterms [in November] is extremely unlikely,” said Marie Kasperek, associate director at the Atlantic Council's Global Business and Economics Program.

China Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2018

At Three Seas Initiative’s Bucharest summit, Central European leaders seek to transform region

By David Wemer

The initiative brings together twelve European Union (EU) member states from the area that borders the Baltic, Adriatic, and Black Seas, to discuss common infrastructure and development programs to jumpstart the region’s economy.

Central Europe Poland

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2018

Macedonia’s high-stakes referendum

By Evelyn Farkas

A failed referendum will be a loss for stability, exacerbating and creating new tension in light of the ethnic Albanian position on NATO. A no vote would be a defeat for democracy—it is after all democracy NATO collective security aims to defend.

Elections The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2018

‘It is now or never’

By George Robertson

In today’s world there may be more tinder-box regions than the Balkans capturing the headlines but complacency in the face of danger is the gravest crime politicians can commit.

Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2018

Three Seas leaders must overcome external influence and internal disunity to achieve prosperity

By Zsofia Bajnai

The many external and internal obstacles facing the Three Seas Initiative must be confronted at upcoming Bucharest Summit, if the project is to develop into a serious economic program.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

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