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.

Migrant Crisis, Brexit Distracting EU from Enlargement, Says Albania’s Foreign Minister

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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Bremain vs Brexit

Feb 25, 2016

Migrant Crisis, Brexit Distracting EU from Enlargement, Says Albania’s Foreign Minister

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The migrant crisis and the debate over the United Kingdom’s future in the European Union have shifted focus away from the enlargement of the bloc and this could disrupt the process of building democratic future member states, Albania’s Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said on February 25. “Unfortunately, the migrant crisis, coupled with other crises that […]

Europe & Eurasia European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2016

‘Sustainable Global Energy Systems’ Needed, says Norwegian Official

By Mitch Hulse

Universal access to affordable green energy is critical for meeting both global sustainable development and carbon-emission-reduction goals, Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Tord Lien, said in Washington on February 25. In order “to eliminate extreme poverty and reduce global social inequality, we have to build sustainable global energy systems,” said Lien. He spoke at […]

Energy & Environment Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2016

These Hackers Have Your Back

By Sarah Wildi

The Food and Drug Administration has begun a push for good-faith hacking in order to anticipate and address cyber security issues, particularly in the realm of medical devices, according to a senior official in the agency. It is also trying to create incentives for manufacturers to take cyber security more seriously. “This has been very […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2016

China’s Challenge to Guarantee Energy and Water Security

By Jack Schnettler

China may hold the key to alleviating some of the pressure from climate change and population growth at the nexus of the relationship between the energy and water sectors. The challenges associated with energy production and water management vary significantly from region to region. A recent report from the World Resources Institute and General Electric […]

China Climate Change & Climate Action

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2016

‘Real Political Dialogue’ Needed to Get Venezuela Out of Crisis

By Mitch Hulse

US official prescribes economic integration, as well, to address political and economic instability in Latin America Venezuela will have to allow “real political dialogue” if it is to extract itself from the economic crisis in which it is mired as a result of historically low oil prices and political instability, according to a senior US […]

Venezuela

Bremain vs Brexit

Feb 22, 2016

Brexit: And Now It Begins…

By Fran Burwell

For all the sturm und drang that accompanied British Prime Minister David Cameron’s negotiations with his European partners on February 19, the specific topics addressed—and the points won by the Prime Minister—were remarkably small. The implications of those negotiations, however, could be immense, both for the United Kingdom and for Europe. Whether the British people […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 19, 2016

US Airstrikes in Libya May Produce an Anti-Western Backlash

By Ashish Kumar Sen

International community must focus on restoring stability to Libya, says Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran US airstrikes that are neither invited by the Libyan authorities nor coordinated with Libyan armed forces may produce a dangerous backlash against the West, according to the Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran. US warplanes conducted airstrikes on an Islamic State of Iraq […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2016

Obama’s Cuba Trip Exposes Cruz, Rubio as ‘Outdated’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Most Americans, including Cuban-Americans, favor normalization of ties between the United States and Cuba, say Atlantic Council analysts US President Barack Obama’s decision to make an historic visit to Cuba in March will have a negligible impact on the presidential election in the United States; if anything, it has succeeded in exposing just how out […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2016

Saudi-Iran Rivalry Keeps Oil Prices Down

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Gulf states seen eager to put ‘fiscal squeeze’ on Iran The regional rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran—the two main producers in a global oil cartel—has become a significant factor behind the sharp decline in oil prices that has also kept rates at historic lows. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf oil-producing countries have watched with […]

Energy & Environment Iran

New Atlanticist

Feb 17, 2016

Iran, Syria, Russia Seen as Top Challenges in the Middle East

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Iran, Syria, and Russia together pose the biggest challenge in the Middle East today, and any notion that there can be an alignment of the interests of Tehran and Washington is unrealistic, three former US officials said at the Atlantic Council on February 16. “We have an Iran-Syria-Russia problem right now in the Middle East,” […]

Iran Iraq

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