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

Mar 21, 2012

A Bodyguard of Lies

By Harlan Ullman

During World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said that truth was so important that it had to be protected by a “bodyguard of lies.” Hence, under Churchill’s leadership, Britain set up the Special Operations Executive to confuse, mislead and otherwise trick the Nazis about allied intentions and operations. The “man who never was” […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2012

Francois Hollande’s Alternative Defense Vision Worrisome

By Dan Kettinger

French Socialist presidential candidate François Hollande recently delivered his defense program in an underwhelming speech that vacillated between vague, grandiose assertions of France’s “independence” on the international stage and its need to act in concert with other countries in addressing common security threats.

France NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2012

Confidence-Building Measures in South Asia

By Jehangir Karamat and Shashi Tyagi

Though India-Pakistan relations are going through a relatively calm phase, things can change quickly. We must therefore take advantage of the present atmosphere to lock in beneficial patterns of behavior.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 20, 2012

Marius Montius Caesar: A Latter Day Shakespearean Tragedy?

By Julian Lindley-French

“Beware the ides of March” a Soothsayer warns Caesar. Marius Montius Caesar is made Dictator of the Roman Republic to save the Republic in the name of the Republic. Critical is the support Caesar enjoys from the heads of the two leading families of the Empire, Angela Portia Merkela, formerly of the Germanic tribe, and […]

Europe & Eurasia Italy

New Atlanticist

Mar 20, 2012

The End of Putinism? Not So Fast

By Benjamin Bilski and Joanna Buckley

A great deal of the Western press coverage of Vladimir Putin’s re-election was optimistically devoted to proclaiming the end of Putin(ism) due to swelling protests, the rising middle class, demographic decline, and stagnation in Russia’s high-cash, low-growth, oil-dependent economy. Nonetheless, it is not a given that Putinism will recede to make way for greater democratization.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 20, 2012

Ambassador James Warlick on US-Bulgaria Cooperation

By Iveta Cherneva

Young Atlanticist Network member Iveta Cherneva interviews James Warlick, US Ambassador to Bulgaria, on questions of partnership in security between the two countries and NATO.

Europe & Eurasia Southern & Southeastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2012

Ending the Afghan Slog

By James Joyner

Standing alongside British prime minister David Cameron, President Obama declared, “This is a hard slog. This is hard work. When I came into office, there had been drift in the Afghan strategy, in part because we had spent a lot of time focusing on Iraq instead. Over the last three years, we have refocused attention […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2012

To Stabilize Libya, Transatlantic Political Engagement Needed

By Alec Simantov

The setbacks to Libya’s internal security and stability are worsening in the run up to scheduled June elections.

Libya

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2012

Bailouts Are no Substitute for Reforms

By Leszek Balcerowicz

The eurozone’s fiscal problems are triggering memories of policies used to deal with similar crises in the past. In years past we have seen the IMF and comparable institutions acting as crisis lenders offering official bail-outs to distressed sovereign borrowers. We have witnessed the monetisation of public debt by central banks, and the outright reduction […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

China’s Military Spending and US National Security

By Derek Reveron

In a sign of transparency, China recently unveiled its annual military budget of 670 billion yuan ($106 billion), which represents a $10.6 billion annual increase. Given that China’s currency is undervalued, some estimates bring the total to over $200 billion and even higher when foreign procurement is included.

China

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