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.

The Atlantic Council, Foreign Funding, and Intellectual Independence

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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

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.

Markup

Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Feb 10, 2013

The Atlantic Council, Foreign Funding, and Intellectual Independence

By James Joyner

Opponents of Senator Chuck Hagel’s confirmation to be the next secretary of defense have waged a smear campaign accusing him of everything from anti-Semitism to anti-gay bigotry to poor treatment of staffers.

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2013

Defense Reduction through Security Force Assistance

By Derek Reveron

With dozens of treaty allies and a strategic priority of promoting the sovereignty of weak states, the US military has been gradually shifting from a force designed for confrontation to one intended to promote international cooperation.

Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2013

Beijing Misreads US Rebalancing in Asia

By Robert A. Manning

Writing in the Global Times Thursday, Chinese scholar Zhou Fangyin argued that the US rebalancing to Asia is having significant regional effects, largely targeted at China.A great deal has been written about the Obama administration’s “rebalancing” in Asia by Chinese analysts. Unfortunately, much of it overstates the amount of change in US policy, the impact […]

China
Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2013

Whole Drone Program Deserves Scrutiny

By Danya Greenfield

John Brennan’s confirmation hearing for CIA Director is stirring up renewed debate on the use of drone strikes as a centerpiece of US counterterrorism strategy and, specifically, the legal grounding for targeting US citizens.

Drones
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2013

Questions for John Brennan

By Joshua Foust

As John Brennan’s confirmation hearing to be the next director of the CIA approaches on Thursday, it is an ideal time to examine his record. While he is the man perhaps best positioned to reform the agency and to handle the complex challenges facing the country, there are some questions he should answer during his […]

Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2013

Georgia’s Diplomatic Shuffle

By Laura Linderman

“America is our biggest and strongest partner, and for a country like Georgia, this is the most important diplomatic post you can imagine,” current Georgian Ambassador to the United States Temuri Yakobashvili recently told the Washington Diplomat. So when he steps down on March first, his replacement will be a key player in the US-Georgian […]

Putin lays flowers at Stalingrad memorial

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2013

How Russia Won the War and Is Still Losing the Peace

By Julian Lindley-French

On the 70th anniversary of the surrender of General von Paulus’s German Sixth Army this weekend, President Putin declared, “Russia is proud of the defenders of Stalingrad.” Rarely do I agree with Putin but he is absolutely right about the two hundred day battle of Stalingrad.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2013

Presidential Killing Powers Need Checks and Balances

By James Joyner

A secret Justice Department memo detailing in great length when the president has the authority to unilaterally order American citizens killed without so much as a criminal charge has been released.

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2013

A Plan to Tame Civil Society in Armenia

By Anna Borshchevskaya

As Armenia prepares for a presidential election on February 18, the international community should direct its attention to a recent proposal by a presidential advisory body that—if implemented—would drastically increase government control over civil society in the country.

Elections
European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2013

The Trials of Chuck Hagel

By Harlan Ullman

Last week’s U.S. Senate confirmation hearing on former Sen. Chuck Hagel’s nomination as secretary of defense was contentious and nasty. Hagel almost certainly will be confirmed but he was badly battered in the process.

Share

Issue briefs and reports