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

Oct 23, 2015

Taking on Cyber Threats Together

By Alejandro Alvarez

Increased cooperation between the public and private sector is essential to tackle growing issues with big data security, experts and analysts agreed at a symposium on big data and cybersecurity on Oct. 22 at the Atlantic Council. The all-day event, “Big Data, Bad Actors,” was jointly produced by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on […]

Cybersecurity National Security

Emerging Defense Challenges

Oct 21, 2015

‘We Need a Freakin’ Budget’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Congressman Adam Smith says cap-free defense budget needed to address global challenges The Pentagon needs a long-term budget that is free of caps if it is to address important global threats, including from Islamist militants, Russia, and China, a senior Democratic lawmaker said on Oct. 21. “We need a freakin’ budget,” Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), […]

Iran Russia

New Atlanticist

Oct 21, 2015

Polish-German Ties: A Return to the Past?

By Adam Twardowski

In late August, three weeks after assuming office, Poland’s President, Andrzej Duda, embarked on a well-received official visit to Berlin. It allayed concerns in some quarters that his presidency would resurrect the combative foreign policy his right-wing party, Law and Justice, practiced toward Germany from 2005 to 2007. At that time, prickly ties between Warsaw […]

Germany Poland

New Atlanticist

Oct 20, 2015

In Afghanistan, an Opportunity for the United States to Work with China and Iran

By Ashish Kumar Sen

EU Special Representative says Islamic State’s rise has created common ground for Washington, Tehran, and Beijing Franz-Michael Mellbin is the European Union’s Special Representative in Afghanistan. In a wide-ranging interview with the New Atlanticist’s Ashish Kumar Sen on Oct. 20, Mellbin discussed the need for a sustained US and NATO troop commitment in Afghanistan, the […]

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

The European Union Shows Turkey its Hand

By Sarah Bedenbaugh

At the European Union summit on Oct. 15, European leaders announced with much fanfare an EU-Turkey joint action plan designed to help stem the flow of refugees through Turkey to Europe. In exchange for Turkey’s cooperation with the EU on migration, EU leaders agreed to provide Turkey with funds (in an amount still to be […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Heads to Washington

By Ashish Kumar Sen

But it’s the military that calls the shots in Pakistan, says former US official Though US President Barack Obama will meet Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the White House on Oct. 22 in an effort aimed at rekindling a peace process in Afghanistan, it is the military that really calls the shots in the […]

Afghanistan China

New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2015

Rethinking the US’ Strategy on ISIS

By Alejandro Alvarez

As Islamist groups continue to gain ground and Russia and Iran become involved in the Syrian conflict, it’s time for the United States to rethink its strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a panel of experts at the Atlantic Council agreed on Oct. 15. Bilal Y. Saab, Resident Senior Fellow […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2015

Walking a Fine Line in the War Against Boko Haram

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The United States will have to balance the need to deal with regional threat and limited resources, says Atlantic Council’s J. Peter Pham As it steps into the war against Boko Haram, the Obama administration will have to balance the need to deal with the regional threat posed by the Islamist militants and the very […]

Nigeria

New Atlanticist

Oct 14, 2015

Obama Should Maintain Current Troop Levels in Afghanistan, says former US Ambassador

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s James B. Cunningham sees Afghan security forces’ confidence, US counterterrorism mission’s success at stake The United States should not further reduce its military and intelligence presence in Afghanistan. Doing so will undermine Afghan security forces and “vitiate” the US’ counterterrorism mission in an important part of the world, said James B. Cunningham, a […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2015

Redefining the Vote in the Digital Age

By Alejandro Alvarez

Though the digital era presents an opportunity to revolutionize the electoral process, it also brings with it an array of challenges for traditional democracy, discussed on an Oct. 9 Atlantic Council conference on the future role of technology in elections. “As technology spreads to various aspects of our lives, the role it plays in elections […]

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