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

Jan 27, 2015

ISIS Puts Down Roots in Libya

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Chaos in North African nation creates ‘natural environment’ for jihadist groups, Atlantic Council’s Mezran says Fighters loyal to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are taking advantage of the chaos in Libya to expand their presence in the North African nation. On Tuesday, an affiliate of ISIS in Libya claimed responsibility for an […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2015

Europe after QE and the Greek Elections: Time for Growth?

By Dante Roscini

Late January has seen two important, highly-anticipated events unfold in Europe: the announcement by the European Central Bank of a large-scale Quantitative Easing program and the results of the Greek general election. In the first — and by far the more important of the two — the ECB, faced with disinflation bordering on deflation, finally […]

Greece

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2015

Greek Election Outcome May Stoke Tensions in Europe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Leftist Syriza’s victory likely to roil debate over austerity, fiscal discipline, Montanino says The victory of an anti-austerity leftist party in Greece’s elections may roil the debate in Europe over questions of austerity and fiscal discipline, says Atlantic Council analyst Andrea Montanino. Alexis Tsipras was sworn in as Greece’s new prime minister on January 26 […]

Greece

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2015

As the ISIS Wars Uproot Millions, Iraq’s Kurdish Region Faces a Flood of Human Misery

By Bina Hussein

Of 2 Million Refugees in Kurdish Zone, Most Languish Outside Camps, With Little or No Aid Amid the world attention focused on 3.8 million Syrians uprooted by the violent spread of the ISIS Islamist army, a little-noted part of that crisis is the flood of perhaps 2 million refugees from both Syria and Iraq into […]

Iraq Syria

New Atlanticist

Jan 24, 2015

Mr. Obama Goes to New Delhi; India Keeps US Guessing

By Ashish Kumar Sen

While US Articulates a Defined Role for India in Asia, the Reverse Is Not True President Barack Obama’s visit to India shows the importance he places on that relationship, but New Delhi has yet to spell out where the US fits into its plans, says Bharath Gopalaswamy, a South Asia analyst at the Atlantic Council. […]

India

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2015

New Saudi King Has A Lot on His Plate

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Atlantic Council’s Bilal Y. Saab Sees ‘Profound and Generational Problems’ Saudi Arabia’s new king will have his hands full dealing with multiple challenges, both at home and abroad, says Atlantic Council analyst Bilal Y. Saab. King Salman bin Abdulaziz, who ascended to the throne following the death of his half-brother Abdullah on Friday, was quick […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2015

A New King: Salman Will Keep Saudi Arabia on Course

By Ashish Kumar Sen

‘Continuity, Cohesion, and Consolidation Will Be the Watchwords,’ Says LeBaron Saudi Arabia’s new king, Salman bin Abdulaziz, is unlikely to depart sharply from the policies of his half-brother and predecessor, Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who died on Friday, according to Atlantic Council analyst Richard LeBaron. “Continuity, cohesion, and consolidation will be the watchwords,” LeBaron, a nonresident […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2015

‘Heightened Risk’ of Terrorist Attack in West, Top Pentagon Official Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Vickers Sees Terrorism and Cyber Attacks as Top Threats to US There is a “heightened risk” of terrorist attacks in the West by groups that have proliferated as a result of the war in Syria and the influence of social media, according to the Pentagon’s top intelligence policy official. Terrorist attacks in Paris this month […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2015

As US, Cuba Open Talks, Congress Is Likely to Favor a Gradual ‘Chipping Away’ at Embargo

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Opposition to Easing Embargo Is Vocal But Small, Atlantic Council Analyst Says As US and Cuban officials meet in Havana this week for their first talks on normalizing relations, Congress is likely to favor moving slowly on President Obama’s request for the lifting of the United States’ five-decade-old trade embargo on Cuba, says Atlantic Council […]

Cuba

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2015

Rousseff Version 2.0: A New Chapter in US-Brazil Ties?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Panel Sees Hope as Brazilian President Pledges to Visit US in September Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff’s second term in office may present an opportunity for Washington and Brasilia to improve relations. Despite recent bumps in the road in the US-Brazil relationship, Anthony S. Harrington, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Brazil from 1999 to 2001, […]

Brazil

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