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
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

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New Atlanticist

May 17, 2012

Becoming NATO’s Next Ally

By Damon Wilson

When NATO leaders meet in Chicago this weekend, they will review the process of enlargement and the performance of candidate nations. While no invitations will be issued, the summit is an opportunity for allies to affirm that NATO will continue to enlarge and that Montenegro is on track to earn a place among their ranks. […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 17, 2012

The Chicago NATO Summit: Much Ado About?

By Harlan Ullman

NATO’s 28 members and some dozen partners will convene Sunday at a heads of government, heads of state summit in Chicago, US President Barack Obama’s hometown. Such summits have been held roughly every two years. The previous one took place in Lisbon, Portugal, in November 2010 where a new “strategic concept” was approved redefining NATO’s […]

Afghanistan NATO

Europe After The Vote

May 16, 2012

Why Greece Must Leave the Euro for Greece and Europe to Survive

By Garrett Workman

In the aftermath of last week’s elections in Greece, in which voters resoundingly rejected further austerity, Europe is struggling to come to terms with Greek voters’ conflicting desire to stay in the Euro while also delaying necessary reforms. However, while debating how to keep Greece in line and in the Euro, a more fundamental question […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2012

A Greek Exit From the Euro Would Lead to Chaos

By Alexei Monsarrat

A few weeks ago there was a wild rumor that Greece’s debt crisis had been dealt with. The hope was that with enough debt relief and a “managed” default, Europe had bought time for global growth to lift the Greek economy, and Greek politicians would wring the country through massive austerity. This was a misread […]

European Union Greece

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2012

Welcome to Merklande?

By Julian Lindley-French

Tal-y-Wern, deepest, darkest Wales. Plinlimmon, Cader Idris, and Mount Snowdon slumber around me as I write. Those great, sleeping Welsh dragons that legend has it will awake in the hour of Cymru’s (Wales) greatest peril.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2012

Building a New Future for Turkey

By Madeleine K. Albright and Stephen J. Hadley

The crisis in Syria and the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear program have highlighted the renewed importance of one of the oldest and most enduring relationships of the United States: its alliance with Turkey.

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2012

Germany: Economic Powerhouse, Second-Rate Military Power?

By James Joyner

“Germany today is an economic powerhouse, but a second-rate military power,” declares a new Atlantic Council report which warns, “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 leader within Europe and the transatlantic Alliance.”

European Union Germany

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2012

A Five-Year Plan for Francois Hollande

By Nicholas Dungan

Today François Hollande has taken office as president of the French Republic. He has pressing priorities in his next five weeks but also a chance to make history in the next five years. Tonight he sees the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, in Berlin. Hollande has said that he values the French-German couple but does not […]

European Union France

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2012

The Challenge of Change

By Chuck Hagel

A new world order is being built today by seven billion global citizens. America’s responsibilities in this new world and to future generations are as enormous as they are humbling. The challenges and choices before us demand leadership that reaches into the future without stumbling over today. They also require challenging every past frame of […]

New Atlanticist

May 14, 2012

Avoiding NATO ‘Dim and Dismal” Future Requires Big 5 Leadership

By James Joyner

Whether NATO can avoid the “dim and dismal future” Bob Gates warned about “will largely be determined by the quality of leadership demonstrated by its largest and most influential allies: the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Turkey,” warns the Atlantic Council in a new report. Under the leadership of Nick Burns and […]

NATO Security & Defense

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