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.

Post-Ceasefire, Entrepreneurship Enables Social Inclusion in Colombia

New Atlanticist
Mar 6, 2025

How European leaders are responding to Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Europe

From London and Berlin to Paris and Brussels, European leaders have taken several notable steps this week on security. This follows the blow-up between the Ukrainian and US presidents on February 28.

New Atlanticist
Feb 26, 2025

Why the US should not lift sanctions against Russia

By
Charles Lichfield

Sanctions are having an unmistakable effect, albeit below the inflated expectations of many in the West in early 2022. Lifting them now would be a mistake.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist
Mar 5, 2025

The Egyptian plan for postwar Gaza is a good starting point—but it needs changes

By
Thomas S. Warrick

While many obstacles remain, the Egyptian proposal could form the starting point for negotiations over a workable plan for postwar Gaza.

Conflict
Crisis Management

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New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2016

Post-Ceasefire, Entrepreneurship Enables Social Inclusion in Colombia

By Meghan Rowley

With the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on June 23, many have asked how the deal will help the country recover from decades of violence. However, the solution may depend on not just the agreement, but also the stable economic development of civil […]

Colombia

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2016

Congolese Presidential Candidate Urges Use of Sanctions to Bring About Democratic Change in DRC

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Moise Katumbi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s leading opposition candidate for president, has urged the international community to use sanctions to press Congolese President Joseph Kabila to give up power. A political crisis in a country where war claimed around five million lives between 1994 and 2003 could create instability that spreads to the […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2016

A ‘Body Slam’ for China

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Tribunal rejects Beijing’s claims in South China Sea A ruling by an international tribunal in The Hague that China’s claims to “historic rights” in the South China Sea are unlawful delivers a setback to Beijing’s territorial ambitions. The question remains, however, whether this verdict will in any way alter China’s behavior. “For sure, this is […]

China

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2016

It’s Time for Iraq’s Kurds to be Entrepreneurial

By Bina Hussein

Dreams of economic prosperity and stability came crashing down in Kurdistan when the Iraqi central government ceased supporting the region’s budget, oil and gas prices hit rock bottom, and the war against the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) flared up in other parts of the country—causing over 1.8 million refugees and internally displaced […]

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2016

Turning Brexit into Reality

By Ashish Kumar Sen

UK’s incoming prime minister, Theresa May, faces task of negotiating with the EU Incoming British Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to move ahead with taking the United Kingdom out of the European Union, and this is the most likely future course, said the Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell. However, a Brexit is not inevitable. “There […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2016

South Sudan: Heading Down a Familiar Road to War?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The international community needs to take a more active role in defusing the crisis in South Sudan where gun battles between forces loyal to the president and vice president over the weekend resulted in the death of 200 people, said the Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham. Contending that South Sudan’s president, Salva Kiir, and his […]

East Africa

Bremain vs Brexit

Jul 9, 2016

Brexit and the Perverse Geopolitics of Leaving the European Union

By Manuel Muñiz and Bernardo Navazo

The result of the June 23 referendum in the United Kingdom could lead to the first instance of a member of the European Union leaving the Union’s ranks. Beyond the social and economic impact of such a decision, the move will have serious geopolitical consequences. And let us be clear from the start: the UK […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2016

Putin Seen Out to ‘Destroy’ the European Union

By Mitch Hulse

Russia is exploiting the migrant crisis facing Europe with the goal of destroying the European Union, according to Madeleine K. Albright, a former US secretary of state. “The United States has felt that it is important to talk to the Russians about Syria and try to figure out whether there are places that we can […]

Russia Syria

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2016

An Army of Storytellers

By Victoria Langton

Public diplomacy has long been a positive tool of the United States and its partners, yet we are still losing in the battle happening online. At the Atlantic Council’s NATO Future Leaders Summit in Warsaw on July 7, three unique storytellers spoke about their experiences and efforts to bridge this online gap. Maxim Eristavi, a […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2016

A Far-Right Victory in Austria Would Be Bad News for the European Union

By Teresa Eder

The July 1 decision by Austria’s high court to overturn the results of the May presidential election presents another opportunity for the far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ) to come to power. That would be bad news for the European Union as the FPÖ’s presidential candidate, Norbert Hofer, has vowed to call a referendum, if he is […]

European Union International Organizations

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