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.

Storify: Russian Opposition Leader, Boris Nemtsov, Killed in Moscow

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

Feb 28, 2015

Storify: Russian Opposition Leader, Boris Nemtsov, Killed in Moscow

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Boris Nemtsov, a charismatic Russian opposition leader, was shot dead near the Kremlin in Moscow on February 27. Nemtsov, a former Deputy Prime Minister, had accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of leading Russia into a crisis with the West with his “mad, aggressive, and deadly policy of war against Ukraine.” “The country needs a political […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2015

War Game Finds ISIS Escalating: Major Attack Unlikely to Alter US Approach

By Ashish Kumar Sen

How would the United States respond if the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) were to either take control of several Sunni neighborhoods in Baghdad or conduct a major terrorist attack on the al-Asad airbase in Iraq where US personnel are based? Neither development would spur the United States to draw down its presence […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2015

Is Bangladesh on the Brink?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A decision by a court in Bangladesh to issue an arrest warrant for Khaleda Zia on February 25 is likely to escalate tensions between the opposition leader’s supporters and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. “We don’t know how this will play out or whether it will precipitate a deeper crisis, but one thing is for […]

South Asia

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2015

Can al-Shabaab Strike the United States?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Somali terror group has sympathizers, but no active sleeper cell in United States, says Atlantic Council’s Pham Al-Shabaab, the al Qaeda-linked militant group in Somalia, has sympathizers in the United States, but likely does not have the ability to strike targets in the West, despite its recent threat to do so, according to Atlantic Council […]

Africa East Africa

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2015

US-Cuba Round 2: Tough Talks Ahead

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analysts say both Washington and Havana have incentives to see progress The second round of talks between the United States and Cuba on February 27 will be marked by tough negotiations, but both sides have incentives to work toward a breakthrough, according to Atlantic Council analysts. “The United States wants to do a […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2015

Moldova’s Weakened Leadership Vows to Stay on Course Toward Europe

By New Atlanticist

But Political Squabbling Yields a Minority Government, Strengthens Russia’s Hand Moldova’s three-month-long political last week produced a surprise prime minister, Chiril Gaburici, who promised every effort “to ensure that by 2018 the country can qualify to sign an agreement on associate membership” in the European Union. But as Gaburici, a cellular telephone company executive, takes […]

Eastern Europe Moldova

Europe After The Vote

Feb 23, 2015

Details of Greece’s Reforms Plan are Key, Says Montanino

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says creditors want to know how Athens will fight corruption Greece’s creditors will scrutinize its reforms plan, which is aimed at securing a financial lifeline, for details on how the new government in Athens will tackle endemic problems such as corruption and tax evasion, according to Atlantic Council analyst Andrea Montanino. Greece […]

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

Feb 20, 2015

Under Pressure, Venezuela’s Maduro Lashes Out at Critics

By Ashish Kumar Sen

The arrest of the Mayor of Caracas is an attempt by President Nicolás Maduro’s crumbling government, which is under immense political and economic pressure to demonstrate authority, to consolidate the hardline base of the governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), according to Atlantic Council analysts. Venezuela, which has suffered political turmoil since protests broke out […]

Cuba Venezuela

New Atlanticist

Feb 18, 2015

Egyptian Airstrikes Will Not Defeat ISIS in Libya, Says Mezran

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says military intervention could doom UN effort to build a national unity government Egyptian airstrikes in Libya have opened the door for similar intervention by other countries in the region and could doom a United Nations-brokered effort to build a national unity government in the North African nation, according to Atlantic Council […]

Italy Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 14, 2015

Declaring War on Islamic Terrorism is Not the Answer, Says LeBaron

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says White House summit must catalogue what we know about countering violent extremism A White House conference on countering violent extremism will “reinforce international will to take on the difficult issues posed by radicalization,” according to the Atlantic Council’s Richard LeBaron. The White House will host a Summit on Countering Violent Extremism […]

National Security Security & Defense

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