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

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New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2016

Colombia Stands on the Brink of Peace

By Ashish Kumar Sen

On the cusp of signing a bilateral ceasefire that will end Latin America’s longest running war, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos must ensure that the peace deal with leftist rebels is implemented to the letter—particularly ensuring justice for the victims—and shore up support for the agreement among Colombian voters, according to Latin America analysts at […]

Colombia

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jun 21, 2016

US Army Secretary Ties Inclusivity, National Security Capability

By Mitch Hulse

The promotion of inclusiveness and diversity goes hand in hand with enhancing the United States’ national security capability, US Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning said on June 21. “Our national security will suffer if we allow bias or prejudice to close doors and discourage great future leaders from serving,” he said. “Building an army […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

Bremain vs Brexit

Jun 21, 2016

Brexit or Bremain, What the EU Desperately Needs is Reform

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council experts discuss what Brussels needs to do differently British voters will take part in a referendum on June 23 to decide whether the United Kingdom should remain in the European Union. Latest polls show a close race. For months, proponents and opponents of the so-called Brexit have made their case to the British […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2016

In the Line of Fire: British MP’s Murder Puts Focus on Security

By John M. Roberts

Those were revolutionary times when Edmund Burke, in 1774, best described the duties of an elected representative to a parliament, national assembly or congress: “Your representative owes you, not his industry only, but his judgment; and he betrays, instead of serving you, if he sacrifices it to your opinion.” What the representative should not expect […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2016

Memo to Next US President: Don’t Squander Opportunity with Iran

By Mitch Hulse

The nuclear deal with Iran has laid the foundation for a stable relationship between the United States and Iran, and the next US administration must prioritize ties with the Islamic Republic, panelists agreed at a conference at the Atlantic Council in Washington on June 16.

Elections Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2016

Ben Rhodes: Tearing Up Iran Nuke Deal Will Precipitate a Crisis in the Middle East

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The next US president would precipitate a crisis in the Middle East and alienate America’s allies if he or she decides to tear up the nuclear deal with Iran, a senior White House official said at the Atlantic Council on June 16. “The way in which the Iran deal was structured creates enormous disincentives for […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2016

Egypt’s Economy Stuck in the ‘Doldrums’

By Julia Goldman

Political instability, insecurity seen hurting foreign investment, tourism The Egyptian economy is “in the doldrums” as a result of political instability and insecurity that have led to inconsistent economic policies and depressed foreign investment, said Mohsin Khan, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East. Khan spoke in […]

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2016

Russian Cyber Attacks in the United States Will ‘Intensify’

By Mitch Hulse

Russian intelligence hacked the Democratic National Committee’s network, says Atlantic Council’s Dmitri Alperovitch Russian intelligence services hacked the Democratic National Committee’s computer network and accessed opposition research on Donald Trump, according to the Atlantic Council’s Dmitri Alperovitch. Two Russian groups—codenamed FancyBear and CozyBear—have been identified as spearheading the DNC breach. “We have a very high-level […]

Cybersecurity Russia

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2016

Tourism in Turkey Takes a Hit

By John M. Roberts

Istanbul is commonly described as a city on two continents. Well, Istanbul’s main airport is now a city of two worlds: its transit halls as full as ever; the arrival areas eerily quiet. This is the visible side of the collapse of tourism in Turkey, the consequence of bombings in cities and a return to […]

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2016

DNC Hack: ‘No Certain Links’ to Foreign Governments

By Mitch Hulse

There are “no certain links” between foreign nation states and the hackers who breached the Democratic National Committee’s computer network and accessed opposition research on Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, according to an Atlantic Council cybersecurity expert. “It’s possible that multiple groups independently initiated their own intrusion of the DNC network, for entirely separate reasons—that […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

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