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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New Atlanticist

Aug 13, 2012

Surrender Not Britain’s Only Option

By Julian Lindley-French

Those of you of a certain vintage will remember those flinty, somewhat silly British war movies of the 1950s. The story line was always roughly the same; a plucky British soldier, invariably called Tommy, armed only with a broken toothbrush, elastic band and a piece of chewing gum would, after suffering much adversity, defeat an […]

Europe & Eurasia United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2012

Romney’s Not Obama Doctrine

By Julian Lindley-French

All American presidents like to establish a doctrine; a coherent set of foreign and security policy goals that underpin US leadership in the world. What does Mitt Romney’s recent foreign tour say about a future President Romney’s foreign and security policy? Can the beginnings of a Romney Doctrine be discerned?

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Aug 10, 2012

Egypt’s Sinai Problem Long Predates Morsi

By Michele Dunne

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi has responded to the August 5 Sinai raid, in which militants killed sixteen Egyptian border guards, by sacking Director of Intelligence Murad Mouwafi, North Sinai Governor Abdel Wahab Mabrouk (provincial governors are presidential appointees), and replacing several other senior security officials.

North Africa

New Atlanticist

Aug 9, 2012

Reflections on the Oak Creek Sikh Temple Tragedy

By Deepa Iyer

I have worked with South Asian community members and organizations since September 11, 2001, and the tragic events of this past Sunday in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, has shaken me to the core. As our country tries to make sense of the tragedy that occurred last Sunday at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, it […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Aug 8, 2012

Infrastructure Alarm Sounds

By Harlan Ullman

Last week, three events should have sounded deafening alarms and issued unmistakable warnings about the vulnerabilities facing mankind. And a fourth was further frosting on this rather explosive cake. None did and complacency still reigns.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2012

Libya’s NTC Turns over Power: Where Does the Transition Go From Here?

By Karim Mezran

Libya’s National Transitional Council (NTC), the highest governing since last year’s overthrow of Muammar Qaddafi, will turn over authority to the newly elected General National Congress (GNC) tomorrow. What does the turnover portend for the selection of a new government? What are the powers of the GNC and what will its role be in the […]

Libya North Africa

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2012

Cyber Hype: Flame, Stuxnet, and Boeing 787’s Falling from the Sky

By Brandon Valeriano

These last few months have been some of the most exciting, depressing, and troubling times for those interested in the phenomenon of cyberwar. As a cyber skeptic deeply engaged in this emerging debate I want to take a step back and analyze what we have learned.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Aug 7, 2012

China: Cyber Threat and Cyber Threatened

By Derek S. Reveron and Jon Lindsay

In any discussion about the security of cyberspace, Chinese hackers are usually singled out as major threats. The most recent (and hardly unique) news involves an operation with Chinese origins, dubbed Byzantine Candor by government investigators, which has been stealing corporate and government secrets for years, to include emails from the president of the European […]

China Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

Aug 6, 2012

Euro-Realism 3: Defending Europe

By Julian Lindley-French

In one of those deliciously Anglo-French moments this week President Hollande took a swipe at the London Olympics and David Cameron. Stung by Bradley Wiggin’s Tour de France Champs Elysee victory Hollande said, “The British have rolled out a red carpet for French athletes to win medals. I thank them very much for that”. It […]

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Aug 3, 2012

Mitt Romney Flunks His Foreign Policy Tryout

By R. Nicholas Burns

Governor Mitt Romney had a chance to demonstrate on his trip to Great Britain, Israel, and Poland that he is ready to take on the duties of America’s top diplomat and commander in chief — among the presidency’s most vital responsibilities. Yet for reasons that are hard to understand, Romney undermined himself through surprising lapses […]

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

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