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.

South Sudan Deal Buys Time for Warring Sides, Diplomats, Says Pham

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 2, 2015

South Sudan Deal Buys Time for Warring Sides, Diplomats, Says Pham

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst says track record of past ceasefires does not inspire confidence A new deal between South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and rebel commander Riek Machar to end the fighting that has devastated the world’s newest nation over the past year is likely just a delaying tactic that allows the two warring sides to […]

East Africa

New Atlanticist

Feb 2, 2015

Three Elephants in the Room: The Unfinished Agenda for the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative

By David Goldwyn

The Caribbean Energy Security Summit (CESS) on January 26 marked the second milestone in US-Caribbean relations in less than a year. The first was the launch by the White House of the Caribbean Energy Security Initiative (CESI), which comprised an unprecedented US commitment to Caribbean energy security, on June 19, 2014, during Vice President Biden’s […]

Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2015

Bright Northern Lights, Big Energy Decisions

By Cynthia Quarterman

US President Barack Obama in January made two widely criticized energy decisions relating to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing. Significant hay has been raised about their deleterious effects, especially on Alaska. The president’s actions, however, have silver linings, and perhaps no clouds, but those have been lost […]

Energy & Environment United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jan 31, 2015

EU Sending ‘Wrong Signals’ to Aspiring Members

By Robbie Gramer

Moratorium on enlargement seen changing ‘rules of the game’ The European Neighborhood Policy, intended to create a “ring of friends,” has instead created a “ring of fire,” according to a senior Ukrainian official. The European Union needs to overcome inertia against further enlargement or it risks experiencing “more of the same” conflicts as the one […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

Ukraine is ‘Bleeding Not Just Blood, But Money’

By Robbie Gramer

Kyiv Official says Financial Support From US and EU Is ‘Crucial’ Ukraine is “bleeding not just blood, but money” as it fights Russian-backed separatists in the country’s southeast, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Vadym Prystayko. US and European Union financial support is “crucial” for his country, Prystayko said January 30. Prystayko spoke as US and […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

New ‘Formula’ Needed to Deal with Putin

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Stephen J. Hadley advocates tougher line to convince Kremlin its strategy in Ukraine will fail The United States and Europe need to take a more forceful stand against Russian President Vladimir Putin to convince him that his strategy of fomenting unrest in Ukraine is not going to succeed, Stephen J. Hadley, who served as National […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2015

Ukraine Needs Support Now, Latvian Foreign Minister Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Rinkēvičs cites urgent need for backing on territorial integrity, economy Ukraine requires strong support for its territorial integrity and economy well before an Eastern Partnership summit in Riga in May, according to Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. Describing Ukraine as the “biggest challenge,” Rinkēvičs said, “we need to address some issues now, in January, in […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2015

Taliban ‘Far from Being a Spent Force’

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analyst sees resurgence of militants as three US contractors are killed in Kabul The death of three US contractors in a shooting incident at Kabul’s airport on Thursday and attacks on a checkpoint and funeral in other parts of Afghanistan prove that the Taliban is “far from being a spent force,” according to […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2015

Conditions Ripe for Electoral Violence in Nigeria

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council analysts see threat from Boko Haram, sore losers The fact that the militant group Boko Haram controls vast swaths of territory in northeastern Nigeria will likely disenfranchise voters and has elevated the danger of post-election violence, according to Atlantic Council analysts. “Because of insecurity in the northeast, one party may believe that its […]

Nigeria Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2015

Momentum Seen Toward Global Climate Deal in Paris

By Ashish Kumar Sen

White House official cites US-China deal, EU pledges, and India’s embrace of renewable energy A landmark US-China climate change deal, EU pledges to cut emissions, and a new commitment from India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, to expand the use of renewable energy as a way to reduce greenhouse gas pollution are all encouraging signs of “momentum” toward a global climate […]

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