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.

North Korea’s Claims to Denuclearize ‘Almost Certainly’ Empty Promises

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

Stay updated

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.

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

Mar 28, 2018

North Korea’s Claims to Denuclearize ‘Almost Certainly’ Empty Promises

By Rachel Ansley

Though North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged his country’s commitment to denuclearization in a secret meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, it is unlikely that his sentiments are sincere. According to Jamie Metzl, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, North Korea will “almost certainly,” ultimately refuse to give […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2018

Kissing the ring: Kim pledges denuclearization after meeting with China’s Xi

By Robert A. Manning

Overnight, China ended the mystery and intrigue of its secret visitor: Yes, it was North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, making his first foreign trip to Beijing. While there, Kim pledged a commitment to North Korean denuclearization. Kim said: “It is our consistent stand to be committed to denuclearization in accordance with the will of […]

China Korea

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2018

The President’s Scorecard

By Mirette F. Mabrouk

Egyptians are going to the polls to vote in a presidential election for the third time since the uprisings of 2011. The act of voting for a president who could, ostensibly, be voted out was a novelty. Hosni Mubarak served five six-year terms before stepping down in February of 2011, and Egyptians were keen on […]

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2018

White House Joins European Allies, Expels Russians Over UK Poisoning

By Rachel Ansley

By expelling sixty Russians from the United States and closing the Russian consulate in Seattle, the administration of US President Donald J. Trump has made a decisive move against the Kremlin for its attack in the United Kingdom (UK). These actions were taken alongside announcements from fifteen European countries that they, too, would expel Russian […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2018

The Populist Challenge to the Liberal International Order

By Jeffrey A. Stacey

Right-wing populism constitutes a sustained challenge to the seventy-year-old so-called liberal international order, a postwar construction of a body of ideas, laws, and cross-border security arrangements that have allowed the Western world to prosper while promoting general values of democracy, openness, and the rule of law. A deep backlash to the liberal order has already […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2018

On the Issues: Bolton vs. McMaster

By Ashish Kumar Sen and Rachel Ansley

US President Donald J. Trump announced on March 22 that John R. Bolton will take over as the next US national security advisor on April 9. Here’s a look at some of Bolton’s positions on key foreign policy issues over the years, contrasted with those of his predecessor, LTG H.R. Mcmaster.

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2018

McMaster Out. Bolton In.

By Ashish Kumar Sen

John R. Bolton, a former US ambassador to the United Nations known for his hawkish foreign policy views, will replace LTG H.R. McMaster as US President Donald J. Trump’s new National Security Advisor. Trump made the personnel announcement in a tweet on the evening of March 22. The decision to replace McMaster comes nine days […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2018

Shots Fired In A Trade War?

By Marie Kasperek

A global trade war is not out of the question anymore. US President Donald J. Trump has set the first domino in motion, and it will be hard to stop. Specifically, Trump has in March alone imposed two tariffs—one targeting Chinese imports and the other the steel and aluminum imports. The latter go into effect […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2018

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Says Salisbury Attack Proves Putin Has ‘No Red Lines’

By Teri Schultz

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin came to Brussels this week to meet European Union (EU) foreign ministers. He had a dual mission. Klimkin made his usual appeal to his European counterparts for more help for Ukraine, but also asked them to do more to protect themselves from a Kremlin he says has no limits after […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2018

Brexit Talks Sadly Lack Vision

By Reginald Dale

The British government and the European Union (EU) are celebrating the latest “milestone” in negotiations to end Britain’s EU membership—agreement on a transition period of twenty-one months after the United Kingdom leaves the EU in just over a year’s time. EU leaders endorsed the agreement at a European Council meeting in Brussels on March 23. […]

European Union International Organizations

Share

Issue briefs and reports