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.

Before taking on Syria, U.S. should heed lesson of the past

New Atlanticist
Jul 29, 2025

The Russia pressure menu: Options to convince Putin to negotiate on Ukraine

As the US president cuts his deadline for Russia to ten days, there are several options for him to increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace.

New Atlanticist
Jul 24, 2025

Dispatch from Manila: A lesson in calling out Chinese maritime aggression

By
Markus Garlauskas, Philip W. Yu

As the Philippines has focused more on Chinese threats to itself, Manila also seems increasingly inclined to see its own security as connected to that of the broader region.

China
Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist
Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By
Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

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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.

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

Jul 20, 2012

Before taking on Syria, U.S. should heed lesson of the past

By Kiron K. Skinner

On June 6, 1982, Israel, seeking to relieve pressure on its northern borders by dismantling the Palestine Liberation Organization’s base of operation, invaded Lebanon, a country beset by civil war and Syrian occupation. Soon thereafter, France, Italy and the United States formed a multinational force to help stabilize the country — as differing factions of […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2012

Euro-Realism: Why We Need a New European Security Strategy

By Julian Lindley-French

I am a Euro-realist, neither a Euro-sceptic, nor a Euro-fanatic. My motivation is to drive through the fathoms of political fantasy and folly pouring forth from the current crisis, much of its cascading down from on high as a generation of failed political leaders try to hide behind a rhetorical deluge.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2012

Five Lessons We Should Have Learned in Afghanistan

By Joshua Foust

As the war in Afghanistan reaches its 2014 transition, when the major combat mission ends and U.S. troops take on a more sedate training role, we should take the chance to look back on what lessons we’ve learned there. With the war shifting from outright combat to maintaining the Afghan government and security forces; can […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2012

It’s the Competitiveness, Stupid

By Frederick Kempe

America deserves better. If only this year’s presidential candidates were as focused on global competitiveness as are America’s business leaders, the world’s most important economy and democracy would already have become the “Comeback Kid,” portrayed on this week’s Economist cover as a muscle-bound Uncle Sam.

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2012

European Energy Security: Southern Gas Corridor On The Move

By David Koranyi

After years of political bickering and commercial uncertainty, Europe’s Southern Gas Corridor project is finally gaining traction. If all goes well, Caspian gas can start flowing to Europe no later than 2018, easing the overdependence on Russian energy imports.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2012

Let’s Hear It for the European Union and the Euro

By Sarwar Kashmeri

It took the United States 100 years to set up its single currency and the Federal Reserve Bank. The European Union launched one in half the time. Now, with the agreement on June 28, 2012 to start the process of building a euro banking union and strengthen the European Central Bank, the stage is set to complete […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2012

The Changing American Way of War

By Derek Reveron

Since November 2001, the United States has been on a massive war footing, with 2.4 million forces deployed in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. Compared to previous wars, thankfully, casualties have been minimal. In Iraq, under 4,500 were killed and 30,000 wounded. In Afghanistan, fewer than 2,000 have been killed and 15,000 wounded. While physical […]

Afghanistan Iraq

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2012

Anchoring the Alliance: Transforming Europe from a Partner in Crisis to a Global Partner

By R. Nicholas Burns Damon Wilson and Jeffrey Lightfoot

If the transatlantic alliance is going to build a brighter future in the decade ahead, Europe will have to regain the ambition to shape international affairs that it demonstrated in decades past.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2012

Strategic Engagement with Russia 2013-17

By Thomas R. Pickering

Russia remains, in ‘Churchillian’ terms, an enigmatic mystery. In its post-Communist transition to a modern state, Russia has shed most of the impedimenta of Communism and begun to search for new directions. But the old conflict between “Slavophiles” and “Westernizers” has emerged in the streets in a new guise and the outcome remains uncertain. Although […]

Missile Defense Russia

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2012

Ghosts of History 2, Asian Security (still) 0 : What is Asia’s Archduke Ferdinand??

By Robert A. Manning

Never mind that Japan has recalled its Ambassador to China. You can bet the mortgage that nary a word was said at the series of high-level ASEAN and East Asia Summit (EAS) security meetings attended by Secretary of State Clinton last week about the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands dispute between China and Japan.

China India

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