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.

Shots Fired: EU Takes Aim at Peanut Butter as Trump Targets Steel

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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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 7, 2018

Shots Fired: EU Takes Aim at Peanut Butter as Trump Targets Steel

By Ashish Kumar Sen

What do bourbon, Levi’s jeans, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, peanut butter, cranberries, and orange juice have in common? The European Union (EU) has threatened to impose retaliatory duties on all of these US products if US President Donald J. Trump goes ahead with his controversial plan to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2018

Are Trump’s Tariffs Aimed at the WTO?

By Rachel Ansley

Does US President Donald J. Trump’s startling and widely panned declaration to impose new tariffs on steel and aluminum imports set the stage for the United States’ exit from the World Trade Organization (WTO)? Jennifer Hillman, a fellow at the Institute of International Economic Law, seems to think so. Trump’s maneuvering indicates that he “would […]

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2018

Can The West Be Saved?

By Stanley Sloan

An unholy alliance of Russia, the Islamic State, and far-right Western politicians and political movements is threatening democracies in the West. The Western populists—playing off fears created by the Islamic State and cooperating both formally and less openly with Russia—seek to move democracies in the West away from a political system that is based on […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2018

It’s Time for Trump to Test North Korea

By Ashish Kumar Sen

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has, in a surprise move, reportedly agreed to suspend nuclear and missile tests and start talks with the United States on dismantling his nuclear weapons. Both were prerequisites set by US President Donald J. Trump’s administration before it would agree to an initial, exploratory meeting. US President Donald J. Trump […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2018

On Security, the Nordics Should Cooperate, not Compete

By Anna Wieslander

When Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven meets US president Donald J. Trump for the first time on March 6, security and defense collaboration will likely be at the top of the agenda. A number of Nordic leaders have already met with Trump, and in their first meeting, he and Löfven have an opportunity to ensure […]

Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2018

In Germany, Social Democrats Give Merkel a Fourth Term

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The political uncertainty that had gripped Germany for the past five months was lifted on March 4. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) rank-and-file voted in favor of another grand coalition that would keep Angela Merkel chancellor of Germany for a fourth term. Sixty-six percent of the SPD’s members voted in support of a grand coalition; […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2018

#ElectionWatch: How Russia-Italy Relations are Impacting the Italian Elections

By Lauren Speranza

Covert influence operations are not as necessary when overt influence already exists Russian interference in Western democratic elections remains a top concern for the transatlantic community following a series of recent consequential votes on both sides of the Atlantic. Over the past several months, campaigns in the United Kingdom, United States, France, Germany, and elsewhere […]

Italy Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 2, 2018

Trump May Get His Trade War After All

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump’s surprise decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, and a tweeted declaration that “trade wars are good” have set off alarm bells across the globe while causing the stock market to plunge.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2018

How Putin Outsources His Meddling

By Stephen Blank

On February 7-8, Syrian soldiers and Russian private military contractors attacked a base in Deir Ezzor, Syria, held by Kurdish forces and where US military advisers were present. Although the Russians knew that the Americans were in the vicinity, they nevertheless attacked on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s chief of staff, Anton Vaino. […]

Russia Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2018

Vladimir Putin Flexes His Nuclear Muscles

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 1 boasted that Russia has developed “invincible” nuclear-capable missiles that can render existing missile defense systems “completely useless.” Putin used his annual state of the nation speech—delivered just weeks before the March 18 presidential election that he is guaranteed to win—to tout Russia’s military might.

Nuclear Nonproliferation Security & Defense

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