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

Feb 6, 2015

What Africa Strategy?

By J. Peter Pham

In the latest National Security Strategy released on February 6, President Obama asserts, “Today, the United States is stronger and better positioned to seize the opportunities of a still new century and safeguard our interests against the risks of an insecure world.” Yet, when specifically addressing Africa, which the President himself in an earlier strategy […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

National Security Strategy 2015: Platitudes R Us

By Robert A. Manning

My first thought upon seeing the long-awaited National Security Strategy was to recall the comments made to me some years ago by a prominent international leader when asked why he said certain things that seemed well beyond his ability to deliver, “Les mots, n’importe pas.” (Words don’t matter). For an administration six years on, its […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Three Elements of the NSS that Deserve More Attention

By Richard LeBaron

Other than a necessary new focus on the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the new National Security Strategy is largely consistent with past reports. The document is an important statement of intent, but we can be pretty confident that no one in the US foreign policy apparatus will sleep with it next to […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Middle East Needed More Attention in National Security Strategy

By Bilal Y. Saab

The National Security Strategy released on February 6 is solid for a second-term president who has two more years in office. The document puts a premium on and is crystal clear on leadership. That is comforting following accusations by international partners and allies — some legitimate, others unfair — that the United States was disengaging […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

National Security Strategy Fails for Not Being Prescriptive

By Alex Ward

The fact that the 2015 National Security Strategy was released a year before the Obama administration becomes a lame duck has made it almost inevitable that it will become an after-the-fact justification for the administration’s national security policy to date. Nonetheless, the NSS is an important document. Here’s why: we now know that the Obama […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2015

Obama ‘All In’ on Pushing Trade Promotion Authority

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘We are nearing the end game,’ says US official The passage of trade promotion authority legislation in the US Congress is critical for the administration to bring the best trade deals to Congress, a senior US official said on February 5. US President Barack Obama has taken the lead in an effort to promote his […]

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2015

Republican Lawmaker Makes Push for Trade Promotion Authority

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Considering legislation does not mean giving up constitutional rights to president, says Reichert Opponents in the US Congress of trade promotion authority legislation must realize that they are not giving up their constitutional rights to the president by considering this measure, but are, in fact, setting parameters for negotiations, a top Republican lawmaker said on […]

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2015

Europe Taking Steps to Wean Itself off Russian Gas

By Ashish Kumar Sen

European Commission official says supply security one of five goals of new energy union Europe has seized the opportunity provided by the Ukraine crisis to improve its energy security, according to Miguel Arias Cañete, Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy in the European Commission. The annexation of Crimea by Russia in March of 2014, and […]

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2015

Ukraine Urgently Needs ‘Front-Loaded’ Aid Package, Finance Minister Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Jaresko: IMF Credits Will Not Help Enough If ‘Dribbled Out Over 12 or 15 Months’ Ukraine urgently requires a “front-loaded” financial package from the International Monetary Fund to help its economy recover from the challenges posed by a recession and a war with Russian-backed separatists, according to Ukrainian Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko. “If this money […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2015

Report Calls on US to Provide Lethal Defensive Military Aid to Ukraine

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Goal Is to Make Further Aggression ‘Too Costly’ for Russia The United States must provide Ukraine with defensive weapons — and $3 billion in military aid over three years — to oppose Russia’s invasion of the country and deter further Russian aggression in Eastern Europe, according to a new report. The report, Preserving Ukraine’s Independence, […]

Ukraine

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