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

Jan 19, 2016

How Will Iran’s Oil Exports Rebound?

By Sara Vakhshouri

Global oil prices hit their lowest point since 2003 after the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations on January 16 lifted sanctions on Iran in response to the International Atomic Energy Agency’s conclusion that the Islamic Republic was in compliance with the terms of a nuclear deal. Brent Crude fell to $27.67 […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2016

Obama Must Institutionalize Iran Nuclear Deal Diplomacy

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Barbara Slavin suggests posting US diplomats to Interests Section in Tehran The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations lifted nuclear-related sanctions on Iran on January 16 after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified that Iran is in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal it reached with the […]

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2016

Taiwan Just Elected its First Female President. Here’s Why it Matters.

By Robert A. Manning

There was little ambiguity in the landslide victory of Tsai Ing-wen and Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP): Tsai won 56.1 percent of the vote, nearly twice that of Kuomintang (KMT) candidate Eric Chu, and the DPP won sixty-eight of the 113 seats in parliament. The election victory of the DPP, whose charter includes the goal […]

China Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2016

Sri Lankan Peace Process Would Have Benefitted from Greater International Effort, says Former Negotiator

By Mitch Hulse

A broader international commitment would have ensured the success of an effort to end an over two-decade-long war between the Sri Lankan military and Tamil separatists, Erik Solheim, a former peace negotiator, said at the Atlantic Council on January 14. In the absence of such a commitment, the Sri Lankan military continued a fierce offensive […]

South Asia

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2016

Indonesia an obvious target as ISIS seeks to expand footprint

By John T. Watts

The terrorist attacks in Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, on January 14 are concerning, but hardly surprising. The Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for the attacks, a first for the group inside the world’s largest Muslim country. It is clear that ISIS is seeking to increase its global footprint and searching for […]

Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2016

Poland’s Right Turn Worries Brussels

By Ashish Kumar Sen

But European Commission seen unlikely to punish Warsaw Poland has been widely hailed as the poster child of democracy in Eastern Europe in the decades since the collapse of communism. Is that about to change under the ruling Law and Justice Party? After sweeping to power in October, the Law and Justice Party (PiS), led […]

Poland

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2016

US’ Syria Policy ‘Paralyzed’ by Rhetoric that Assad Must Go, Says Hagel

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Former Defense Secretary also has advice for presidential candidates: don’t divide America Former Secretary of Defense, Chuck Hagel, thinks that the Obama administration has become “paralyzed” by its rhetoric that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must step down, said budget cuts have pushed the United States “perilously close” to being unable to maintain its military dominance, […]

Iran Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2016

‘Security and Economic Development are Two Sides of the Same Coin’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Afghanistan’s neighbors must realize that a stable Afghanistan will benefit the entire region, says Afghan President’s top adviser A stable Afghanistan is vital for regional prosperity because gas pipelines, power grids, and road and rail networks can be constructed providing economical and much-needed energy and market access to the neighborhood, a top Afghan official said […]

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2016

Can Ghani Make Peace with the Taliban in Afghanistan?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Answer lies in Pakistan’s willingness to end support for militants, says Atlantic Council’s James B. Cunningham Representatives from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, and the United States are meeting in Islamabad this week to draw up a roadmap for peace talks with the Taliban. James B. Cunningham, a former US Ambassador to Afghanistan and current Khalilzad Chair […]

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Jan 11, 2016

Privatization of Saudi Aramco: A Path to Good Governance?

By Jean-François Seznec

Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince, Muhammad bin Salman, gave a fascinating interview to the Economist on January 4. Among the many subjects he covered, one in particular appealed to energy wonks—the privatization of Saudi Aramco. This topic has been discussed within the kingdom for years, but never got anywhere, probably because a privatized Saudi Aramco […]

Saudi Arabia

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