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

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

Aug 22, 2017

Trump’s Commitment to Afghanistan

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US president’s policy will send a clear message to the region, said Atlantic Council’s James B. Cunningham US President Donald J. Trump’s approach to Afghanistan—marked by an indefinite US troop presence—sends a clear signal of the United States’ commitment to ending the war in that country, said James B. Cunningham, a nonresident senior fellow at […]

Afghanistan Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 21, 2017

NATO’s Cyber Domain Concept Shows Increased Maturity in Understanding of Cyber Threats

By Klara Jordan

Recently, there have been a number of articles that explore the important and ongoing debate about the capabilities and policies NATO needs in order to deter and defend against the ever-looming cyber threats. While many such articles accurately highlight the urgent need for NATO and its member states to develop a more proactive approach to […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2017

Ecuador’s Ruling Party Headed for a Split

By Sebastian Maag

With new leadership shaking up Ecuador’s politics, the country has joined many of its neighbors in a renewed battle against corruption at the highest levels of government. In early August 2017, Ecuador’s President Lenín Moreno used an executive decree to strip his Vice President Jorge Glas of all his powers. Moreno’s measure—aimed at neutralizing Glas, […]

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2017

Drone Sale Would Cement US-India Ties

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

On the eve of US President Donald J. Trump’s first meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington on June 26, the US State Department approved the sale of twenty-two Sea Guardian Unmanned Aerial System drones to India. This prospective purchase of drones manufactured by General Atomics marks the first of its kind from […]

India

New Atlanticist

Aug 17, 2017

How will Brexit impact intelligence sharing?

By Elizabeth Ball

A recent report published by the UK’s House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee concluded there will be a “barrier” to security if data transfers between EU nations and the UK are obstructed after Brexit.

Intelligence United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2017

US Withdraws from Paris as Climate Impacts are Underscored

By Ellen Scholl

On August 4, the administration of US President Donald J. Trump formally notified the United Nations (UN) of its intent to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, while a forthcoming report points to the increasing effects of climate change. In providing formal notification, Trump confirmed his June announcement that he would pull the United States […]

New Atlanticist

Aug 14, 2017

The Kenyan Elections: Too Soon to Relax

By Bronwyn Bruton

Though incumbent Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has won the 2017 presidential election, the country remains on edge due to allegations of voter fraud by his opponent, Raila Odinga, which could plunge the country into post-election violence. In 2007, a horrific spasm of post-election violence swept across Kenya when Odinga, who has made four bids for […]

East Africa

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2017

The Statue of Liberty and the New Birth of Freedom

By Daniel Fried

White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller was right in one part of his polemic with CNN’s Jim Acosta on August 2: the Statue of Liberty was not, in its origins, a celebration of immigration. But the statue’s meaning, its original intent so to speak, will not advance Miller’s or anyone’s nativist agenda.

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2017

Trump’s Dangerous War [of Words] with Kim Jong-un

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US President Donald J. Trump should ratchet down his rhetoric on North Korea and instead devote his energy to working with the international community to isolate Pyongyang, according to the Atlantic Council’s Robert A. Manning. “There is no imminent threat of attack from North Korea; there is no crisis,” said Manning, a resident senior fellow […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2017

Kenya’s Fake News Problem

By Kelsey Lilley

Fake news has reared its ugly head in elections again—this time in Kenya. As East Africa’s most tech-savvy country went to the polls on August 8, its citizens were inundated with fake news that colored the campaign season and now threatens hard-won gains to prevent post-election violence. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his primary challenger, […]

East Africa

Share

Issue briefs and reports