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.

ISIS Strikes Brussels: Is This The ‘New Normal’?

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

Mar 23, 2016

ISIS Strikes Brussels: Is This The ‘New Normal’?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The terrorist attacks in Brussels represent a collective failure of Western intelligence, underscore the challenges radicalized young Muslims pose to Europe and the United States, but most of all are emblematic of what the Atlantic Council’s Barry Pavel describes as a “new normal.” The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the […]

Cybersecurity European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2016

Belgium’s 9/11

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Brussels attacks a failure of Western intelligence, says Howard Gutman, former US Ambassador to Belgium The terrorist attacks in Brussels that left at least thirty-six people dead on March 22 represent a failure of US and European intelligence, according to Howard Gutman, a former US Ambassador to Belgium. “Most people have been focusing on Molenbeek […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2016

Paris Suspect’s Arrest Likely Hastened Attack in Brussels, says former CIA Director Michael Hayden

By David Ensor and Ashish Kumar Sen

Salah Abdeslam’s arrest last week in connection with the Paris attacks likely sped up terrorists’ plans to strike Brussels, according to Michael Hayden, former Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and an Atlantic Council board member. With Abdeslam’s arrest following a four-month manhunt, the terrorists likely felt that they were “in a position of either […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2016

Brussels Bombings Reflect ISIS’ Growing ‘Attack Capability’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘When you are dealing with terrorists, absolutely the best defense is a strong offense,’ says Michael Morell, a former Deputy Director of the CIA The bombings in Brussels on March 22 are a reflection of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham’s growing “attack capability” in Europe, according to Michael Morell, a former Deputy Director […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2016

Will the US Congress Chip Away at the Embargo on Cuba?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Obama administration has done almost all it can to loosen embargo, now the ball is in Congress’ court, say Atlantic Council analysts US President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart, Raúl Castro, agree on at least one thing: the US trade and travel embargo on Cuba has to go. That is easier said than done. […]

Cuba Latin America

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2016

It’s Time to Sharpen NATO’s ‘Spearhead’ Force

By Robbie Gramer

Funding issues and decision-making challenges may render obsolete NATO’s “spearhead” force, which was set up in response to Russia’s military aggression along its eastern flank. This is another critical gap for NATO given Russia’s ramped up pressure on Eastern Europe, a move that has many Alliance officials even more worried after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2016

Russia in Ukraine: The Greatest Challenge to the European Security Order

By Peter Hultqvist and Juozas Olekas

European sanctions on Russia cannot be eased until Moscow fulfils commitments it made under the Minsk agreements to pull its troops and weaponry out of eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian control of its state borders is restored. Despite persistent Russian denials, regular Russian troops remain in Donbas and Moscow continues to provide military equipment and training […]

Northern Europe Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2016

Migrant Deal ‘Reengages’ Turkey with the European Union

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The deal reached on March 18 to address Europe’s migrant crisis “reengages” Turkey with the European Union, but is a “questionable deal” for Europe, said the Atlantic Council’s Fran Burwell. “Even more important than the specifics of the negotiation, this deal reengages Turkey with Europe, taking the relationship out of the deep freeze where it had […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2016

Can Japan Help End the War in Syria?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Interview with Kota Suechika of Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan Japan can use its good relationships with various actors in the Syrian civil war to help end the conflict that this month entered its sixth year, according to Kota Suechika, a professor at the College of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto, Japan. Japan’s […]

Japan Syria

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2016

Human Rights, Democratic Reform at the Top of Obama’s Agenda in Cuba, says Susan Rice

By Ashish Kumar Sen

President will make historic visit to Havana on March 20 Human rights and democratic reform will be at the top of US President Barack Obama’s agenda when he visits Cuba next week and meets with Cuban President Raúl Castro as well as civil society leaders of his choosing, and not those handpicked by Havana, according […]

Brazil Colombia

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