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

Jul 25, 2013

US, China Drift Toward Zero Sum

By Robert A. Manning

For all the soaring rhetoric of the Obama-Xi Summit about the US and China committing to forge a bold, new partnership and avoiding a 1914-like stumbling into conflict, one could be forgiven for thinking the bilateral relationship is lapsing into a “same old, same old” ritualistic diplomacy.

China Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Bank Leverage Now in EU’s Hands

By Chris Brummer

The ball is in the EU’s court to show just how much international financial coordination will be a race to the top, or to the bottom. Over the last two weeks, US regulators have approved “Basel III” banking regulations that will require banks to increase the amount and quality of capital used to finance their […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Can Senators Handle the Truth on Syria?

By James Joyner

Senators John McCain and Carl Levin have demanded answers from General Martin Dempsey on Syria. Can they handle the truth?

Maritime Security Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Freeing Japan

By Julian Lindley-French

Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of the future, better than the history of the past.” To nowhere does this Jeffersonian aphorism apply more than contemporary Japan. With Sunday’s clear victory of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party in elections to the Upper House of the Diet, Japan’s parliament, Japan maybe about […]

Germany Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Jul 25, 2013

Mali’s Election: Good enough, but not sufficient

By J. Peter Pham

Nearly a year and a half after a coup brought down its elected government, inadvertently paving the way for the takeover of the northern two-thirds of the country by ethnic separatists temporarily aligned with al-Qaeda’s regional affiliate and other extremists, and seven months after a French-led military intervention turned back the insurgents, scattering the militants […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2013

China’s Soft Power Deficit in Africa

By Adrienne Chuck

President Barack Obama’s second trip to Sub-Saharan Africa last month was accompanied by criticism and talk of the diminishing American presence and influence on the continent. The media described his trip to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania as an effort to “catch up” to or “counter” the influence that China has made in Africa in […]

Africa China

New Atlanticist

Jul 24, 2013

Three Hops and You’re Out

By James Joyner

Revelations that the government’s ability to access American citizens’ phone records without probable cause is much broader than previously contemplated got Congress’ attention last week, drawing rebukes and warnings from both sides of the aisle.

Intelligence National Security

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2013

Egypt’s Coup-Friendly Liberal Democrats

By Rajan Menon

More than a few of Egypt’s democrats have hailed the country’s military brass for enabling a popular revolution, carrying out the people’s will, and deposing an authoritarian leader. This has created an awkward situation for American democracy promoters, who are put in the position of supporting their liberal allies while sometimes denying that what occurred […]

Elections North Africa

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2013

Defining Coups, and Political Dysfunction

By Daveed Gartenstein-Ross

In a recent congressional hearing, Representative Brad Sherman’s observation got it entirely right: more than two weeks after Mohammed Morsi’s ouster from power, the United States government still isn’t characterizing the events that transpired in Egypt as a coup. Though Secretary of State John Kerry is doubtless correct that the situation is complex, the fact […]

North Africa Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2013

Secularists Need Unity to Take on Political Islam

By Barbara Slavin

For millions of Egyptians, there is a palpable sense of relief that their president is no longer Mohamed Morsi. But for Egypt’s democratic “do-over” to succeed, the forces that came together to persuade the army to remove Morsi will have to unite behind a viable electoral alternative.

Elections Iran

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