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.

Moldova’s Presidential Election Pits Pro-Europe Candidates Against Pro-Russia Ones

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

Apr 7, 2016

Moldova’s Presidential Election Pits Pro-Europe Candidates Against Pro-Russia Ones

By Brian Mefford

Moldova’s presidential elections are shaping up to divide the electorate between pro-Europe and pro-Russia candidates even before campaigning officially gets underway. On April 1, Moldova’s Parliament voted to hold direct presidential elections on October 30. It put off the official start of the election campaign until July 30 to allow Parliament time to pass electoral […]

Moldova

New Atlanticist

Apr 6, 2016

NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg Stands Up for the Alliance

By Ashish Kumar Sen

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg refused to wade into US domestic politics, but he delivered a forceful defense of the Alliance on April 6 in remarks that may be interpreted as a firm rebuttal to Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump’s criticism of the grouping as “obsolete.” Noting that the mutual interests of the United States […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Apr 6, 2016

Wanted: Enduring US Leadership on Nuclear Security

By Lori Esposito Murray

We stand at a historic crossroad with the end of US President Barack Obama’s fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit this past weekend. While it is clear that the progress to date of the global effort to keep nuclear weapons out of terrorists’ hands has been dependent on Obama’s determined leadership, it is not clear what […]

National Security Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2016

Distract, Deceive, Destroy: Atlantic Council Report exposes Putin’s deceptions in Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A new Atlantic Council report uses open-source data to link Russia to attacks on civilian facilities and the use of cluster bombs in Syria.

Conflict Disinformation

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2016

No, Europe, Migrants Are Not Stealing Your Jobs

By Ashish Kumar Sen

As migrants head to Europe, International Monetary Fund study places emphasis on integration Contrary to the rhetoric from some politicians, there is very little evidence that migrants take jobs away from host populations, and in Europe, where some countries have low to negative population growth, migration should be seen as a boon, according to an […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2016

What Next After Obama’s Final Nuclear Security Summit?

By Mitch Hulse

Engagement with Russia, Sustained Commitment to Disarmament Sought Positive engagement with Russia and sustained disarmament efforts must follow US President Barack Obama’s final Nuclear Security Summit in order to avoid global nuclear crises, according to a former US Secretary of Defense. “The actions following the Nuclear Security Summits have removed quite a bit of [nuclear] […]

Nuclear Nonproliferation Security & Defense

Cyber 9/12 Project

Apr 1, 2016

What if a Cyberattack Ignited a War?

By Samuel Klein

Cyber 9/12 contest participants present policy options to contain crisis A cyberattack has brought nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan to the brink of war. An unknown adversary has hacked into a US defense contractor’s computer systems, stolen highly sensitive data, and potentially taken over Global Positioning System satellites. Fighter jets and military radios, along with […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 31, 2016

Rula Ghani: Afghanistan’s First Lady. Myth Buster.

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Afghanistan’s First Lady, Rula Ghani, delivered a spirited defense of her husband’s administration on March 31 and warned that “repeated half truths take a life of their own…and suddenly become conventional wisdom.” Speaking at the Atlantic Council, Ghani described and disputed numerous “myths” about Afghanistan that she said exist in the West, particularly in the […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 31, 2016

Impeaching Brazilian President Rousseff Will Cement a Crooked System

By Andrea Murta

Brazil inched one step closer to impeaching President Dilma Rousseff on March 29 when a main coalition partner, the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB), officially parted ways with the government. A vote is scheduled in the lower chamber of Congress for mid-April; with most PMDB votes now against Rousseff, the impeachment will likely be approved […]

Brazil

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2016

Georgia’s President Wants Security Guarantees for Eastern Partnership Countries

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Paris, Brussels terrorist attacks add to urgency, says Georgian President Giorgi Margvelashvili The terrorist attacks on Paris and Brussels show that there is an urgent need for “bigger security guarantees” for countries of the Eastern Partnership, Georgia’s President, Giorgi Margvelashvili, said at the Atlantic Council on March 30. “At the end of the day…are we […]

European Union International Organizations

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