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

Nov 2, 2015

In Turkey, President Erdoğan Prevails

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Formation of a new government a “strong plus” for Turkey’s relations with the United States, says Atlantic Council’s Francis J. Ricciardone Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) pulled off an unexpected victory in parliamentary elections on Nov. 1 that gives it enough seats to govern by itself. The result marked a […]

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2015

China’s Two-Child Policy: Too Little, Too Late?

By Alex Renner

In 2013, China’s Communist Party (CCP) shocked the mainland by announcing that it was loosening restrictions on the “One-Child” policy that had managed the growth of China’s population since 1980. The new policy allowed for a second child if one parent was an only child. The news was greeted warmly by the population. In October, […]

China

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2015

A ‘Band-Aid’ for Syria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US decision to deploy Special Operations Forces will not change situation significantly, says Atlantic Council’s Frederic C. Hof The Obama administration’s decision to deploy less than fifty US Special Operations Forces to Syria is a significant shift in US strategy, but one that is unlikely to tilt the balance on the ground in a war […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 30, 2015

Wanted: A ‘Comprehensive Strategy’ to Deal with Russia

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Georgian Foreign Minister says Western ‘passivity’ encourages Moscow, discourages regional countries The West needs to develop a “comprehensive strategy” to counter Russian authoritarianism and support Georgia’s aspiration of joining NATO, Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, said at the Atlantic Council on Oct. 29. “Western passivity in the face of Russian aggression […]

The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2015

Turkey Votes: Heading into a Familiar Deadlock?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Atlantic Council’s Aaron Stein says second round of voting is unlikely to produce a clear winner Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will not be on the ballot in the Nov. 1 elections, yet the vote is in many ways about him. Turks will participate in their second election in five months after the previous […]

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2015

US Trade Representative Froman Confident Congress Will Back TPP

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A trade deal negotiated by the Obama administration and eleven other Pacific Rim countries, while not perfect, will eventually win bipartisan support from members of Congress, US Trade Representative Michael Froman said at the Atlantic Council on Oct. 27. “We are heading into a critical period for this effort,” Froman said. “At the end of […]

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2015

Poland’s Right Turn

By Michał Kobosko

Poland’s domestic political scene experienced a major shake-up after the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), crushed the ruling Civic Platform (PO)-led coalition in the parliamentary election on Oct. 25. According to late exit polls, PiS will gain no less than 37 percent of the vote, while PO will get just 23 percent. A […]

Poland

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2015

Engaging Youth for Pakistan’s Future

By Alejandro Alvarez

“Yes, Pakistan is facing lots of challenges. Yes, there are flaws in our system,” said Fakiha Ali, one of the Atlantic Council’s 2015 Emerging Leaders of Pakistan. “But if we are positive and try to build something good out of all those negatives, Pakistan would definitely have a great future very soon.” On Oct. 26, […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 26, 2015

In Argentina, a Promise of Change

By Ashish Kumar Sen

It is little surprise that Argentina’s presidential elections have gone into a second round, but what is startling is the narrow margin between the two leading candidates—both of whom promise change, one more so than the other. Daniel Scioli, endorsed by Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner who is barred from seeking a third term, […]

Latin America

New Atlanticist

Oct 26, 2015

Guatemala’s New President Faces His Biggest Challenge: Governing

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Jimmy Morales, a former comedian, has won a landslide election victory to become the next President of Guatemala. That was the easy part. Now comes the hard part: governing. Morales won twice the number of votes than his opponent, former First Lady Sandra Torres, in a runoff election on Oct. 25. He will take office […]

Central America

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