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.

Libya Gets a Helping Hand in Anti-ISIS Fight

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

May 16, 2016

Libya Gets a Helping Hand in Anti-ISIS Fight

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A decision by the United States and twenty other nations to provide weapons and training to help Libya’s UN-backed government fight the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) will put pressure on opponents—particularly a popular former General in Benghazi—to rally behind the new administration, said the Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran. The communique of support, […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

Joseph Kabila’s Ugly Legacy

By Julian Wyss

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) faces a “crisis in governance” under President Joseph Kabila, said panelists at an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center on May 12, and, though Kabila is constitutionally ineligible for a third term as president, it’s becoming increasingly clear that he has no plans to step down […]

Africa

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

A New Saudi Oil Minister: Tactical Continuation, Strategic Revolution

By Jean-François Seznec

The appointment of Khalid al-Falih as Saudi Arabia’s minister of energy, industry and mineral resources comes as no surprise. He is the most qualified person to replace the brilliant Ali al-Naimi who served as minister of petroleum and mineral resources for over twenty years. Both men are petroleum engineers steeped in the oil business and […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2016

Contributions to NATO More Than Just Budgetary, says Canada’s Defense Minister

By Ashish Kumar Sen

NATO member states’ defense expenditure must be measured in much more than just budgetary terms, Canada’s Defense Minister, Harjit Sajjan, said on May 12. “We had 158 soldiers who died, sacrificed, in Afghanistan. This is a contribution that we made,” Sajjan, a veteran of the Afghan war, said in a brief interaction with journalists at […]

Iraq NATO

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2016

Give (Arab) Peace (Initiative) a Chance

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Deal would elevate Arab-Israeli cooperation to take on challenges posed by ISIS, Iran, says Atlantic Council’s Bilal Y. Saab In the absence of a credible Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement, Gulf Arab states and Israel will find it hard to elevate their security cooperation to deal with the threats posed by Iran and the Islamic State of […]

Israel Saudi Arabia

Bremain vs Brexit

May 11, 2016

Brexit Could Lead to ‘Dismembering’ of the European Union

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former US national security advisors, Stephen J. Hadley and Thomas E. Donilon, warn against the UK leaving the EU A British exit from the European Union would weaken the United Kingdom, likely unravel the EU by setting off a “cascade of referendums,” and endanger US national security interests, two former US national security advisors said […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2016

Chuck Hagel to Next US President: Talk to Putin

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former Defense Secretary warns against ‘Cold War buildup’ as NATO deploys in Europe’s eastern flank As it ramps up its troop presence in Europe’s eastern flank, NATO must be careful not to get embroiled in a “Cold War buildup” with Russia, and the next US president must make it a priority to engage directly with […]

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2016

Saudi Energy Policies Unlikely to Shift Under New Minister

By Sara Vakhshouri

Saudi Arabia’s energy policies are unlikely to change despite the fact that longtime energy minister, Ali al-Naimi, was removed on May 7 and Khalid al-Falih appointed as his successor. There has already been much speculation and concern about the kingdom’s energy policies under King Salman. Questions about the future of Saudi Arabia’s oil policies are […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2016

Why NATO Allies Should Be Worried About the Scottish Elections

By John Johnston

NATO partners must take a closer look at the defense policies of Scottish political parties in the wake of the Scottish National Party’s historic election victory on May 5 and its leader’s declaration that she reserves the right to hold a second independence referendum if the United Kingdom leaves the European Union “against our will.” […]

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2016

How Ukraine Can Solve Its Local Election Conundrum

By John E. Herbst

Even when it is effective, diplomacy can be an unsightly business. Perhaps nothing illustrates this better than that ugly, illegitimate child of Mother Russia’s war in Ukraine: the Minsk agreements. In recent months, Germany and France have been pressing Ukraine to pass a local elections law as the basis for holding elections in the Donetsk People’s Republic […]

Ukraine

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