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.

Beyond the Immediate Tragedy: Ebola’s Long-Term Implications

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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Experts React

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.

Markup

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

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2014

Beyond the Immediate Tragedy: Ebola’s Long-Term Implications

By J. Peter Pham

The deaths of more than 3,000 people from the Ebola virus have stunned and, indeed, frightened the world. The outbreak now hits home — ever since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first case in which Ebola has been diagnosed outside Africa, in a man from Liberia who took a commercial flight […]

Africa

New Atlanticist

Sep 30, 2014

Crossing Our Fingers for Afghanistan’s New President

By James Rupert

There is painful irony in watching the earnest, smiling Ashraf Ghani take office as Afghanistan’s president. As did his predecessor, Hamid Karzai, Ghani begins his term bearing enormous hopes of both Afghans and the world. If anything, Ghani—as a development economist, longtime World Bank officer and a practiced administrator—has more experience at many parts of […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2014

In Afghanistan, President Ghani’s First Steps Will Be Critical

By Shuja Nawaz

President Ashraf Ghani took over from President Hamid Karzai in Kabul today in an historic transition. A long dispute over the election result was resolved with a rare compromise that brought Dr. Ghani’s opponent, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, into government in a new position, as “chief executive,” that is shaped as a kind of prime ministership. […]

Afghanistan South Asia

New Atlanticist

Sep 29, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | September 29

By Irena Chalupa

Ukrainians Topple Lenin Statue in Kharkiv via Huffington Post In Eastern Ukraine, a Bellicose Mood Prevails via NPR Russia, Ukraine in a Gas Dispute as Winter Approaches via Washington Post Belarus Lures Ukrainians Picking Dictatorship over War via Bloomberg Ukraine’s Next Parliament Will Be Different, but Maybe Not Stable via Kyiv Post Empty Moldovan Pipeline Shows Difficulty of Breaking Gazprom Monopoly via RFE/RL

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Sep 26, 2014

Is This Obama’s Golden Foreign Policy Moment?

By Barry Pavel

Four Key Lessons for the Rest of the Obama Term President Barack Obama’s tough speech before the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday struck a very different tone from his past foreign policy speeches, which often highlighted the drawdown of US military forces from overseas conflicts. Instead, this time, and before a global audience, President […]

Middle East Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 25, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | September 25

By Irena Chalupa

Poroshenko Sees Ukraine’s EU Application by 2020; Lays Out Reform Program via RFE/RL Borderland: Ukraine’s Dilemma via The New Yorker Ukraine in Turmoil: A Somalia Scenario? via The Economist Lithuania’s President: ‘Russia is Terrorizing Its Neighbors and Using Terrorist Methods’ via Washington Post Cementing Front Lines in Donbas Risks Entrenching Putin’s Influence in Ukraine via […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2014

Here’s How the US Attacks on ISIS Might Alter the Civil War in Syria

By New Atlanticist

As the United States conducts missile and air strikes on the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) in Syria, it could reap the additional strategic benefit of tilting the war there away from the Assad regime and jihadist forces, and in favor of the mainstream rebel groups to which it has given some support. […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2014

Ukraine News Roundup | September 23

By Irena Chalupa

Ukraine’s President Wowed Congress, But His Party Has a Dark Side via The Daily Beast Protesters and Counterprotesters at Moscow’s Big Anti-War March via Slate Ukraine is on the Brink of Total Economic Collapse via Business Insider Russia and the West: Looking Back in Anger and Forward With Dread via The Atlantic No Safeguards Stopping […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Sep 23, 2014

Life After the Presidency: Can Shimon Peres Find a New Job?

By James Rupert

After seven years as Israel’s president and fifty-five years in politics, Shimon Peres is looking for a job. And in a satirical, five-minute video, his granddaughter, Israeli columnist and screenwriter Mika Almog, shows how hard it can be.

New Atlanticist

Sep 22, 2014

Afghanistan Creates Its Own Best Chance

By Shuja Nawaz

Afghanistan may have reached a critical turning point this weekend with the announcement of Dr. Ashraf Ghani as the country’s next president under a power-sharing agreement with his rival, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah. But it may be a long, slow turn, unless the candidates’ followers also support the idea that a mixed government can dovetail the […]

Afghanistan

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