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
Mar 6, 2025

How European leaders are responding to Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Europe

From London and Berlin to Paris and Brussels, European leaders have taken several notable steps this week on security. This follows the blow-up between the Ukrainian and US presidents on February 28.

New Atlanticist
Feb 26, 2025

Why the US should not lift sanctions against Russia

By
Charles Lichfield

Sanctions are having an unmistakable effect, albeit below the inflated expectations of many in the West in early 2022. Lifting them now would be a mistake.

Conflict
Economic Sanctions

New Atlanticist
Mar 5, 2025

The Egyptian plan for postwar Gaza is a good starting point—but it needs changes

By
Thomas S. Warrick

While many obstacles remain, the Egyptian proposal could form the starting point for negotiations over a workable plan for postwar Gaza.

Conflict
Crisis Management

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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

Dec 6, 2012

Drone Strike on Democracy

By James Joyner

As a theoretical matter, remotely piloted vehicles are simply a tool of warfare, morally indistinguishable from manned aircraft. The more efficiently the United States can target and kill its enemies, the better. And drones are cheaper to operate, carry far less risk for American military personnel, and make it easier to collect operational intelligence than their manned […]

Drones National Security

New Atlanticist

Dec 6, 2012

A Chaotic Intelligence Community

By Joshua Foust

The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the Pentagon is sending hundreds of spies overseas as part of its rapid expansion into espionage- an endeavor rivaling the CIA. The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) will oversee this effort, expected to top the deployment of 1,600 agents worldwide. And it is the wrong approach.

Intelligence Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 5, 2012

President Obama Should Save Political Fights for the Economy

By Harlan Ullman

About eight decades ago, the great American humorist Will Rogers wryly observed that whenever Congress wanted to play a joke on its constituents, it passed a law. And more sarcastically, Rogers concluded that every law Congress passed was a joke.

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2012

NATO Deploying Patriots to Turkey

By James Joyner

NATO has agreed to deploy Patriot missiles along the Turkey-Syria border to protect Turkish airspace and territory, while making clear no escalation is intended.

Missile Defense NATO

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2012

How to Build Trust Between India and Pakistan

By Ishrat Husain and Kavita N. Ramdas

This week, a delegation consisting of heads of leading Pakistani business houses are visiting India.

Economy & Business India

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2012

Stifling Critical Voices in Southeast Europe

By Rena Linden

On November 24, a Croatian journalist revealed that Milorad Dodik, the president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska, offered him money to cover up Dodik’s connection to the Hypo Alpe Adria Banka corruption scandal.

Politics & Diplomacy The Balkans

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2012

To Save Congo, Let It Fall Apart

By Peter Pham

The Democratic Republic of Congo, which erupted in violence again earlier this month, ought to be one of the richest countries in the world.

North & West Africa

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2012

Yemen’s Democratic Revolution, One Year Later

By Danya Greenfield

Last week marked the one-year anniversary of Yemen’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, stepping down from power after more than 10 months of protests led by youth activists and joined by a cross-section of opposition groups and ordinary Yemenis throughout the country. Over the past year, Yemen has crawled its way back from the brink of […]

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2012

US Commanders in Chief Should Heed the Military Consequences

By Harlan Ullman

To ensure civilian control over its military, the US Constitution specifies that the president, and not a general or an admiral, is commander in chief of the armed forces.

National Security Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Nov 29, 2012

Russia’s Murky Energy Future

By Robert Manning

Earlier this month, the U.S. House approved a bill to establish permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) with Russia, also a newly-minted member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). These moves toward integrating the country into the global economy came at the same time as state oil company Rosneft took over the Russian-British partnership known as […]

Energy & Environment European Union

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