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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.

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Middle East Needed More Attention in National Security Strategy

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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Middle East Needed More Attention in National Security Strategy

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

Middle East Needed More Attention in National Security Strategy

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

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

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
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