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.

Have the British Armed Forces Met Their Waterloo?

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

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2012

Have the British Armed Forces Met Their Waterloo?

By Julian Lindley-French

Winston Churchill once lamented the “Want of foresight, unwillingness to act when action would be simple and effective, lack of clear thinking, confusion of counsel until the emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong, these are the features which constitute the endless repetition of history.” Reading the speech of British Defence Minister Philip Hammond […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2012

Former Iranian Negotiator Faults His Nation’s Nuclear Diplomacy

By Barbara Slavin

Iran undercut its own negotiators by withholding from them key details of its nuclear program, according to a new book by a former senior Iranian diplomat.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2012

Montenegro: Why We Must Keep the Door Open

By Julian Lindley-French

Graham Greene once wrote, “There is always one moment when the door opens and lets the future in.” Here in beautiful Budva the Adriatic laps gently on the beach below my balcony and then stretches away like a carpet of crushed opal with the sun leaping from shard to shard. I have just spent the […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: A Path to Turkish Leadership in the Alliance

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

If NATO hopes to maintain a central role in shaping its strategic neighborhood, it will need Turkey to take on a position of leadership within the Alliance. Within the next decade, a Turkish Secretary General should lead the Alliance. But for that to happen Turkey will have to act like the responsible power it should […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: A Stronger Germany

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

For NATO to succeed in the future, the Alliance needs a stronger Germany. One senior Alliance official labeled Germany a “lost nation” in its political and military leadership. Europe’s future relevance as a global strategic partner of the United States is contingent on Germany taking its full place as a much stronger political and military […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2012

Supporting Democracy

By Madeleine K Albright

America’s most valuable contribution to democracy is and always has been the successful implementation of freedom at home. If our country had grown up in despotism, the world would be a different and far bleaker place.

Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jun 6, 2012

South Asian Meltdown?

By Harlan Ullman

Conditions in South Asia are chaotic, confused, critical and potentially catastrophic. Afghanistan, India and Pakistan are confronted with existential security, economic and political dangers that could overwhelm the capacity and limited resources of each state to address.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

In Spain, Germany Is Villain, Not Savior

By Frederick Kempe

What brought me to Spain during the most threatening week of the country’s recent history was an invitation to speak about one of Europe’s darkest hours a half-century ago, pegged to the Spanish-language publication of my book Berlin 1961: Kennedy, Khrushchev, and the Most Dangerous Place on Earth.

Europe & Eurasia Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

Pressure Mounts on Russia To Switch Horses in Syria

By Barbara Slavin

The US, Europe and Arab nations are mounting a concerted effort to convince Russia that it can maintain its alliance with Syria without Bashar al-Assad at the helm.

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jun 5, 2012

Yemeni Youth Condemn Drones, Call for Halt to Saleh Clan Support

By Danya Greenfield

As I talked with a group of 30 Yemeni youth leaders recently, the message came across loud and clear: US drone attacks against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are short-sighted, ill-fated and create more enemies than they destroy.

Yemen

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