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

Mar 6, 2013

Was Afghanistan Worth It?

By James Joyner

As his Marines prepare to leave Helmand Province, General James Amos, the commandant, says the mission has “paid off.” He cites several metrics: “The number of violent events, from gunshots to roadside bombs, has dropped in almost every district since 2010.” “Roads have been paved and markets secured, allowing commerce to grow in places like […]

Afghanistan

Congressional Relations

Mar 6, 2013

Y2K Sequester?

By Harlan Ullman

As of last Friday, the inability or intransigence of U.S. President Barack Obama and Republicans in the House of Representatives to reach a budget agreement triggered the much publicized sequester.

Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2013

Promoting the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership

By Garrett Workman

With both the United States and Europe mired in economic stagnation, removing the remaining barriers to trade—both tariffs and divergent regulations—is critical to maintaining the leadership position the West has grown accustomed to. President Obama made clear in his State of the Union address that pursuing a comprehensive agreement with the European Union will be […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2013

Handicapping the Kenyan Election

By Bronwyn Bruton

As Kenyans go to the polls, observers are bracing for a replay of the country’s horrific 2007 presidential elections, which produced a wave of ethnic violence that killed more than a thousand people and displaced over a half a million.

East Africa Elections

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2013

Sequestration’s Credibility Costs

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

The debate over sequestration is focused nearly entirely on the impact of spending reductions on the U.S. economy. Far less attention is given to how the automatic spending cuts would undermine the credibility of American power abroad. As sequestration comes into force, the White House and Congress signal a dangerous lack of resolve to both […]

Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2013

Toward Stability in Mali

By Dustin Dehez

The current crisis in Mali came largely as a shock to the international community. Yet, with the conflict having gone from local insurgency to full scale war and back, plenty of analyses have begun to formulate an early consensus among analysts: the conflict, it is argued, is a direct result of the 2011 civil war […]

Politics & Diplomacy Sahel

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2013

Jones: ‘Pivot to Asia’ Regretable Word Choice

By James Joyner

General Jim Jones, former national security advisor to President Obama, said “pivot to Asia” are probably “the words we regret most.” While there’s no question that the Asia-Pacific is more important than ever, the phrase signaled that other regions, notably Europe and Africa, were therefore less important.

Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2013

Kwasniewski: Ukraine Must Choose Between West and Russia

By James Joyner

Former Polish President Aleksander Kwaśniewski declared Ukraine must choose between the West and Russia–and urged the United States and Europe to work to nudge them in our direction.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2013

Arming Syria’s Rebels No Panacea

By Daniel Trombly

With an influx of Saudi-purchased arms and ideas floating for non-lethal aid to the Syrian rebels, irate supporters of directly arming the Syrian rebels are demanding more.

Iraq Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2013

International Policy Must Consider Unintended Consequences

By Harlan Ullman

Unintended consequences often combine the most diabolical of dangers with the greatest of huge rewards. This Janus-like face of danger and reward is often unrecognized and even ignored in the taking of major decisions by states and leaders.

Syria United States and Canada

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