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.

Anchoring the Alliance: NATO Still Matters

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

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.

Content

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: NATO Still Matters

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

It was the shot heard around the Alliance. In a hard-hitting farewell speech delivered in Brussels just days before his retirement as US Secretary of Defense on July 1, 2011, Robert Gates offered a tough-love message to America’s NATO allies. He warned that future US policymakers, and the American public, would lose interest in the […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: The United States Must Lead

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

Despite their importance, key European allies cannot sustain a vigorous and effective NATO without an involved and committed United States.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2012

Fostering Sources of Growth Across the Atlantic

By Josef Ackermann

In times such as these, amid severe economic crisis in many European countries and persistent troubles in the United States, it may seem misplaced to search for Atlantic sources of growth. In many nations, a succession of crises has had to be contained, from real estate to banking, from private debt to public debt, from […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2012

US Exclusion of Iran on Syria Threatens Syria, Nuclear Talks

By Barbara Slavin

The Barack Obama administration’s apparent decision to cut Iran out of a multilateral group trying to resolve the Syria crisis may backfire, encouraging Tehran to sabotage any post-Assad government and also undermining nuclear talks with Iran. The US gave its most explicit rejection of Iranian participation Tuesday, June 12 when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2012

Day of Russia or Day of the Kremlin?

By Julian Lindley-French

Today is the Day of Russia. It marks the moment in 1992 when the Declaration on Russian National Sovereignty was adopted by the Russian Parliament and Russia re-emerged from the wreckage of the Soviet Union. Back then there was much hope both in Russia and the rest of the free world that this enormous, great […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2012

Are the Financial Markets Really Europe’s Savior?

By Frederick Kempe

If the euro is saved, the much-maligned power of global financial markets will deserve much of the credit. The conventional wisdom among many on the intellectual left is that unbridled financial players threaten to destroy the European Union, one of history’s noblest, war-ending projects. The truth, however, is something else. To be sure, speculators lack […]

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2012

Enduring Soft Power of the United States

By Derek Reveron

The rise of China and the US pivot to the Pacific has renewed the debate about American decline. One look at America’s university campuses will confirm that its soft power, at least, endures.

China

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2012

Negotiating a Solution to the Security Problem in Libya

By Karim Mezran

The security situation in Libya remains tenuous. In addition to the well publicized clashes between competing militias, there is continuous infiltration of armed elements from neighboring countries, especially Egypt, that range from mere criminal gangs to terrorist groups which cause tension and threats to the whole area.

Libya NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2012

Lagarde: Time to Finish the Job

By Garrett Workman

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde made an impassioned plea for governments to “finish the job” of putting its financial house in order to staunch the bleeding from the accelerating crisis in Europe. The euro and the European project are now facing an existential crisis. Without clarity and decisive leadership at this historic moment, Europe may […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2012

Why NATO Is a Pacific Power

By Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Reynolds

European members of NATO view America’s pivot toward Asia anxiously, seeing it as the beginning of a U.S. withdrawal from Europe. They should not be concerned. Instead, European members should see America’s turn to the Asia-Pacific region for what it is: the most consequential opportunity to bolster the trans-Atlantic link since the attacks of September […]

NATO Security & Defense

Share

Issue briefs and reports