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.

In Yemen, a US Policy Focused on Drones Missed the Roots of Instability and Terror

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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Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

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Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2015

In Yemen, a US Policy Focused on Drones Missed the Roots of Instability and Terror

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US and Allies Need to Help Build Economy, Governance, and Justice, Analyst Says The chaos in Yemen underscores that the United States and its allies need a comprehensive security and economic strategy for that country, says Atlantic Council analyst Danya Greenfield. Yemen’s decline, marked yesterday as Shiite tribesmen besieged the presidential offices, has given new […]

Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jan 21, 2015

Obama’s Passage to India: A Chance to ‘Revitalize’ Bilateral Relations

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Turn ‘This Moment of Renewal … Into Concrete Action,’ Senator Mark Warner Says President Barack Obama’s visit to New Delhi this month presents an opportunity to “regenerate, restart, and revitalize” the bilateral relationship with India, according to Senator Mark R. Warner, co-chairman of the bipartisan Senate India Caucus. Obama will become the first US president […]

India

New Atlanticist

Jan 20, 2015

Here’s Why Saudi Arabia Has Let Oil Prices Fall—and Why They Could Revive by Year’s End

By David L. Goldwyn

The Saudi Kingdom Aims to Restore Its Relevance, and OPEC’s Discipline Analysts largely agree on the main reasons why the world’s benchmark oil price has dropped by half in the past six months, from $100 per barrel to $50. Supplies grew faster than expected, demand has been underwhelming, US imports of light crude oil declined, […]

Saudi Arabia

New Atlanticist

Jan 16, 2015

Dungan: Will Belgian, French Violence Tilt Europe’s Balance of Security and Liberties?

By New Atlanticist

Atlantic Council Analyst Says Debate on the Continent Is Revived Today’s arrests and gun-battles in Belgium, as police intervened to prevent what they said were Islamist terrorist attacks in the making, underscore that last week’s Islamist violence in Paris may signal what Atlantic Council analyst Barry Pavel then called “a new normal.”

France Western Europe

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2015

Yemen-Based Group’s Claim of Paris Attack May Boost Its Ability to Strike the West

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Al-Qaeda Affiliate Could Bolster Recruitment, Resources, Pavel Says The claim by al Qaeda’s franchise in Yemen that it was behind the terrorist attacks in Paris last week, if true, would boost the group’s ability to plan similar attacks in the West, according to Atlantic Council analyst Barry Pavel.

France Yemen

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2015

“If Only It Were So?”

By Richard L. Morningstar

More and more conspiracy theorists believe that the United States has so much power that it can wield its insidious hand to dictate everything from world oil prices to fomenting unrest and instability in countries around the world. Nothing can be further from the truth.

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2015

France Is Not Disturbed by ‘Storm in a D.C. Teacup,’ Dungan Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Charlie Hebdo Features Muhammad Cartoon in New Issue French officials on Tuesday hunted for the accomplices of three terrorists who killed 16 people in Paris last week, while some of the victims of the attacks were laid to rest at tearful funerals. In Washington, however, the controversy over the Obama administration’s decision not to send […]

France

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2015

Massacre in Nigeria: Boko Haram Once Again Bigger, More Brutal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

A Violent Militia Moves Toward Its Goal: an ‘Islamic Caliphate’ in Africa’s Sahel Region As world attention fixes on the terrorist attacks in Paris, Africa’s most prominent Islamist militant group has massacred as many as 2,000 people in northeastern Nigeria. This new violence by Boko Haram—a movement described as “Africa’s ISIS”—is the latest in its […]

Africa Nigeria

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2015

US Energy Policy: Seek Diversification for Europe

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein Urges Creation of a True Euro-Energy Market, Including Russia Europe must diversify its energy sources to avoid the threat of Russia again shutting off its gas supply, said Amos Hochstein, the State Department’s Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs. About one-third of Europe’s gas comes from Russia, which has […]

Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2015

Congress Should Reverse Strictures on US Defense Spending, Stackley Says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

US Navy’s ‘Acquisitions Executive’ Describes Rising Challenges The Congress must roll back limits on US defense spending, particularly in light of the heavy investments countries such as China and Russia are making in their navies, according to Sean J. Stackley, the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition.

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