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.

Questions to Consider as NATO Responds to Migrant Crisis

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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

Markup

Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Feb 11, 2016

Questions to Consider as NATO Responds to Migrant Crisis

By Steven Horrell

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s February 11 announcement that NATO has agreed to a proposal from Germany, Greece, and Turkey to assist with the refugee and migrant crisis in the eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas is an important response to a refugee crisis that has enormous implications for Europe. NATO’s naval response, however, opens up […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

Feb 10, 2016

Could China Use Force to Settle Taiwan Sovereignty Issue?

By Mitch Hulse

China-Taiwan relations have warmed significantly as a consequence of increased economic interdependence, but some analysts believe that Beijing may ultimately use force to settle the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty. The election in January of Taiwan’s first female President, Tsai Ing-wen, who leads the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, has been viewed warily by Beijing. Soon after […]

China

New Atlanticist

Feb 9, 2016

Saudi Offer to Deploy Troops to Syria ‘Turns the Tables’ on the United States

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Plan seen taking heat off Gulf Arab states over role in war on ISIS, putting onus on the United States to do more Saudi Arabia’s offer to deploy ground troops to fight the Islamic State in Syria is seen as putting pressure on the Obama administration—which has been urging its Arab Gulf partners to ramp […]

Iran Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2016

China Pays the Price for North Korea’s Belligerence

By Robert A. Manning

North Korea’s fourth nuclear test followed by a ballistic missile launch have ominous implications—a North Korea in possession of miniaturized warheads and a delivery system. These developments have rattled nerves and escalated tensions in Northeast Asia. The outrage over North Korea’s flagrant violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions has reverberated worldwide, yet China, North […]

China Korea

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2016

Turning COP21’s Vision into Reality

By Mitch Hulse

International partnerships, technological innovation, addressing cybersecurity challenges seen as critical to realization of environmental goals International partnerships, technological innovation, and addressing cybersecurity challenges will be key to turning a global commitment to clean energy into reality, according to a senior US energy official. More than 190 nations agreed to curb rising global temperatures through carbon […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Colombia’s President Santos Faces Next Big Challenge—Selling His Peace Deal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leader describes peace deal with leftist FARC rebels as an ‘irreversible moment’ Colombia’s President, Juan Manuel Santos, wholeheartedly believes that his attempt to end the Western Hemisphere’s longest-running war will bear fruit, the big challenge, however, will be convincing Colombians that “peace is going to be marvelous.” “Most Colombians have never seen one single day […]

Colombia Latin America

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Rallying the Transatlantic Community Toward a Greater Purpose

By Damon Wilson

A new era of US leadership can lead an effort to help adapt, revitalize, and defend an international order that advances security, democratic governance, and prosperity, says Atlantic Council’s Damon Wilson Europe is in crisis. The continent today faces a confluence of crises far more profound than most realize. As a result, the United States […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2016

Americans and Iranians Grappled Long Before the Nuclear Talks

By Mitch Hulse

‘Sports diplomacy’ laid the groundwork for detente, says US official Decades before the United States and Iran agreed on the historic nuclear deal, international sports federations were working together to break down diplomatic barriers and prejudices between the two countries. Since 1998, wrestling rings and volleyball courts in Tehran and California—not Washington conference rooms—have been […]

Iran

Congressional Relations

Feb 2, 2016

Mind the Gap: Survey Finds Growing Trust Gap Between Elite and Mass Populations

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Populist distrust toward government and media have buoyed Donald Trump’s political fortunes, but this is not a phenomenon that is unique to the United States, according to a new global survey. While the “informed public” is growing increasingly trusting of government, business, nongovernmental organizations, and the media, that opinion is not shared by the “mass […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 2, 2016

Now is the Time to Put EU-NATO Cooperation Back on the Agenda

By Lauren Speranza

For many years, the European Union and NATO have straddled the bounds between cooperation and competition. Even with the formal establishment of the EU after the Cold War, NATO continued to serve as a defense guarantor for Europe. Yet, as the EU expanded its capabilities as a security actor, adding the military element of its […]

European Union International Organizations

Share

Issue briefs and reports