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.

What Will Lifting Iran Sanctions Mean for US Firms?

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

Dec 17, 2015

What Will Lifting Iran Sanctions Mean for US Firms?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US embargo will, ‘by and large,’ remain in place, says US Treasury official Even after US, EU, and UN sanctions have been lifted, Americans thinking of doing business in Iran will be restrained by other US sanctions and prohibited from dealing with blacklisted Iranian officials and entities, a top Obama administration official said at the […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Dec 17, 2015

Dip in Oil, Gas Prices Had Markets on Edge in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Implementation of Paris climate deal will be the big question in 2016, says Atlantic Council’s Richard L. Morningstar As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is part of a series. Richard L. Morningstar is the Founding Director of […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2015

Ukraine: Society No Longer Willing to Compromise with a Compromise

By Pavlo Sheremeta

Whoever directed the show in Ukraine’s parliament on December 11—when a ruling-party coalition parliamentarian dragged Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk from the podium—may have achieved their objective: there was no serious discussion of the government’s record that day. As a result of internal and external compromises, the current government with Yatsenyuk will remain in place for the […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 16, 2015

Global Warming: US-Cuba Thaw Biggest News Out of Latin America in 2015

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Rapprochement has gone a long way to open up the debate about Cuba, says Atlantic Council’s Peter Schechter As 2015 draws to a close, our experts take a look back at the year that was and look ahead to 2016. This interview is the first in a series. Peter Schechter is the Director of the […]

Cuba Latin America

New Atlanticist

Dec 14, 2015

COP21 Not the Finish Line, But A Very Solid Foundation

By Heather Zichal

There were high expectations for Paris COP21 and the outcome of the talks more than met those expectations, producing a lasting agreement that significantly reduces global carbon pollution and begins our transition to a clean energy economy. It is a milestone pact between 190 developing and developed countries that have mutually committed to walk down […]

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Dec 14, 2015

Transatlantic Power in Economic Sanctions

By Nico Catano

Economic sanctions have become one of the most successful tools in achieving policy goals, and offer an effective alternative to more hawkish options. The United States has crafted sanctions regimes throughout the world, but it is without doubt most effective in partnership with its allies, notably the European Union. The US-EU economic bloc makes up […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 14, 2015

Senator Urges Congress to Confront ‘Stark’ Vet Suicide Rates

By Alejandro Alvarez

Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) calls for ‘all hands on deck’ in Congress as suicide rates exceed combat losses US armed forces today lose more troops to suicide than to active combat, Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) said at the Atlantic Council on Dec. 10, while calling on Congress to develop an effective system to help veterans […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2015

British Defense Secretary Calls for Tightening Noose Around ISIS

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The US-led coalition that is conducting airstrikes on the Islamic State in Syria should more deliberately target the terrorist group’s infrastructure and “tighten the noose” around its de facto capital Raqqa, British Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said at the Atlantic Council on Dec. 11. “I hope now we are going to see new focus on […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Dec 9, 2015

Russia, IMF, and Global Economic Governance

By Andrea Montanino

The International Monetary Fund decided on Dec. 8 to change its Lending into Arrear Policy (LIA). Until now, the Fund could only lend to a member country if all the arrears on its sovereign debt were cleared, with two exceptions, contingent on specific conditions on the state of the negotiation with official creditors of the […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2015

Is the United States a Less Reliable Ally?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Some Arab Gulf states seen looking at Russia, China as ‘alternatives’ The United States’ friends and allies in the Middle East see Washington as a less reliable partner and are “talking fairly openly about alternatives” such as Russia and China, retired Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., a former US National Security Advisor, said on Dec. […]

International Organizations Iran

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