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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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

Oct 30, 2013

The Wrong War, Again

By Harlan Ullman

Last week, Washington roiled in revelations about the war on terror with reports of drone strikes in Pakistan secretly approved by that government; NSA tapping of the German chancellor and French president’s phone calls along with dozens of other heads of state; and what to do once the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force ends […]

New Atlanticist

Oct 29, 2013

The Geopolitical Contradictions of the NSA Scandal

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Europe’s infatuation with Barack Obama started and ended in Germany. The European public fell head over heels in 2008, when then-candidate Obama addressed hundreds of thousands of adoring Germans at the Victory Column. His story was compelling and reminded Europeans of everything they loved about America. Best of all, candidate Obama spoke like a European, […]

Europe & Eurasia
United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Oct 28, 2013

Energy Analyst: Nabucco’s Gap Has to Be Filled

By Vassilios Sitaras

Having read, with great interest might I add, the article by David Koranyi, Ian Brzezinski and Matthew Bryza, published here on New Atlanticist and entitled After Nabucco – Croatia to the Rescue of Central Europe’s Energy Security, I totally agree with the authors that, for reasons of enhancing South-Eastern Europe’s energy security, Nabucco’s gap has to […]

Energy & Environment
Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Oct 28, 2013

Poaching Peace and Security

By J. Peter Pham

Last week, former rebels loyal to the opposition Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO) announced that they were abandoning the twenty-one year old peace accord with the government of the southern African country after army troops overran a remote jungle base. The military action followed a spate of attacks on arms depots as well as civilian buses […]

Africa
South & Central Africa

New Atlanticist

Oct 25, 2013

Will Turkey Implement Smart Defense?

By Patrick O'Reilly

Prime Minister Erdrogan’s recent announcement that Turkey is in discussions with China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to acquire the FD-2000 (export version of the HQ-9) as Turkey’s first long-range anti-missile system is a significant step backward from the “Smart Defense” initiative endorsed by all leaders at the 2012 NATO Summit.

Missile Defense
NATO

New Atlanticist

Oct 24, 2013

Saudi Tiff with Washington Latest of Many

By Barbara Slavin

Once again, Saudi officials are on a rhetorical rampage against the United States. Bandar bin Sultan, the former ambassador to the United States and current Saudi intelligence chief, has warned that the kingdom will make a “major shift” away from its 80-year alliance with Washington.

New Atlanticist

Oct 24, 2013

A Balancing Act for Iran End Game

By Nicholas Burns

While extremists in Congress were hijacking the government during the shutdown, State Department diplomats were pursuing much more productive work a world away in Geneva. With surprisingly little fanfare, American and Iranian negotiators launched long-awaited talks over Iran’s increasingly advanced nuclear program. They described their first meeting as “substantive and forward-looking.” In diplo-speak, that means […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Oct 24, 2013

Mexico: Education Reforms Under Siege

By Gabriel Sanchez Zinny

Lucia, a resident of Mexico City, was stuck in traffic for nearly seven hours. Pedro, from Guatemala, couldn’t make it home after protesters forced the airport to close, cancelling his flight. These stories will sound familiar to anyone who experienced the chaos in Mexico over the past weeks. The disorder stemmed from striking teachers unions, […]

Mexico

New Atlanticist

Oct 24, 2013

Gravity: Let’s Not Make the Movie a Reality

By Bharath Gopalaswamy

The recently released Hollywood hit Gravity depicts George Clooney and Sandra Bullock undertaking a space mission for routine maintenance activities. Their mission is disrupted by debris created by a Russian missile that destroys a defunct satellite. The astronauts scramble for safety, realizing that their vehicle is damaged beyond repair and the rest of their crew is dead. […]

New Atlanticist

Oct 23, 2013

Mourning for America

By Harlan Ullman

Three decades ago, President Ronald Reagan could proudly proclaim “it is morning in America.” The meaning was clear. With Reagan at the helm, America would reverse its decline and emerge from the “malaise” of the 1970’s to a new and better place. Today, mourning is the appropriate term. For reasons that were too pathetically obvious […]

United States and Canada

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