New Atlanticist

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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.

Walking a Fine Line in the War Against Boko Haram

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.

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Walking a Fine Line in the War Against Boko Haram

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

Walking a Fine Line in the War Against Boko Haram

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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Content

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 […]

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2015

For Libya, ‘the First Step in a Long Journey’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Atlantic Council’s Karim Mezran discusses a UN plan for a national unity government in Libya The announcement by the United Nations’ envoy for Libya of a national unity government after months of talks is just the “first step in a long journey” for the North African nation plagued by chaos since the ouster of […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Oct 8, 2015

A Three-Pronged Strategy to Deal with Putin

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s James L. Jones, Jr. recommends a toolkit that includes economic, political, and security components The United States must develop a three-pronged approach that includes economic, political, and security components to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “retrograde ambitions in favor of the peaceful and progressive order the transatlantic community and the world had envisioned […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2015

Berlin Wall to be Displayed at the State Department

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Swapping stories about their experiences in an East Germany that was shut off from the West by the Berlin Wall, US Secretary of State John Kerry and German President Joachim Gauck on October 7 commemorated the arrival of a section of the barrier at the State Department in Washington. The Atlantic Council provided this segment […]

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2015

The Rise of the Left in Britain

By Claire Yorke

The past six months have been highly eventful for British politics. After the elections in May, which saw the re-election of the Conservatives and the disastrous defeats of the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, the country encountered yet another political surprise in September with the election of the Labour party’s new leader: Jeremy Corbyn. A […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Oct 7, 2015

Hungary’s Gazprom Renegotiation and the Decline of Traditional Contracts

By Nolan Theisen

Since it was signed in 1996, the Panrusgáz contract with Russia has dictated the structure of Hungary’s natural gas market. While this contract’s expiration will be delayed until closer to 2018, it is clear that a new agreement will be negotiated on entirely different terms than before. Like other Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Oct 6, 2015

Portugal’s Election: Reforms Pay Off

By Andrea Montanino and Samuel Dorshimer

Portugal’s recent elections revealed that harsh reforms can have a payoff for serious political parties. Incumbent center-right coalition Portugal Ahead, formed by the People’s Party (CDS) and the Social Democrats (PSD), received the largest share of the vote in the Oct. 4 legislative election, despite not winning enough seats to form a majority government. This […]

Southern & Southeastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Oct 5, 2015

TPP: Putting the United States in the Driver’s Seat

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The Atlantic Council’s Andrea Montanino and Jason Marczak discuss the importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement The United States and eleven other Pacific Rim countries on October 5 reached an agreement on the largest-ever regional trade accord in history. US President Barack Obama said the deal, known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), “reflects America’s values […]

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs
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