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

Apr 18, 2012

A Presidential Challenge

By Harlan Ullman

With the emergence of former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney as the presumptive Republican nominee, the presidential campaign should enter a serious phase given the gravitas of the issues. Yet the sorry state of American politics means that the chances of a meaningful debate over these difficult and indeed potentially intractable issues confronting the nation aren’t […]

Elections
Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

How Spain Can Save Europe

By Ben Carliner

Spanish sovereign bond yields are rising again. It seems that the ECB’s long term refinancing operation has not bought as much time as was hoped. But what are the markets worried about? Is it the backsliding by Spain’s government over its fiscal deficit targets? Or is it in fact austerity itself? Market sentiment is never […]

Economy & Business
European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

Siachen: Ten Questions

By Maleeha Lodhi

It was in April twenty-eight years ago that the seeds of the Siachen conflict were sown. This April nature struck a cruel blow when an avalanche hit the area, burying 139 Pakistani soldiers and civilian workers. The tragedy is a poignant reminder of the need to settle a long-standing, costly dispute. Because facts have been […]

India
Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 17, 2012

Demilitarization of the Siachen Conflict Zone: Challenges and Prospects

By Gurmeet Kanwal

The death of 124 Pakistani soldiers and 14 civilians in an avalanche in the Siachen conflict zone has once again brought to the fore the dangers of the continued deployment by India and Pakistan to safeguard the Actual Ground Position Line, despite the fact that an informal cease-fire has been holding up quite well since […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Cheapening NATO’s Security Promise Weakens It

By James Joyner

After an incident last week in which two Syrians were killed by Assad regime forces while attempting to flee to safety in Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan declared that “NATO has a responsibility to protect Turkish borders.”

Afghanistan
NATO

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Our Pre-industrial Cyber Future: Is the Smart Grid Setting Us Up For a 200-Year Crash?

By Jason Healey

Is it possible, as we rush to implement energy-saving Smart Grid technologies, that we are building a system so vulnerable that a cyber disruption would reduce us to pre-industrial days? This was the topic of a recent panel at the RSA computer security conference and seems, at first look, to be eye-rolling hyperbole. As no one has […]

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2012

Iran Hones Asymmetric Diplomacy with Washington

By Barbara Slavin

Outnumbered six to one, Iran deftly maneuvered this weekend (April 13-14) to restart negotiations that could yield formal recognition of its uranium enrichment program, and postponement of more crushing economic sanctions or a military attack. The results of the meeting in Istanbul between Iran and the so-called P5+1—which both sides called “positive”—was a clear example of how […]

Iran
Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2012

Loose Lips Sink Ships

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The U.S. high command in Afghanistan has evidently decided to inform Taliban chieftain Mullah Omar of military action plans before U.S. and allied forces leave in 2014 — if not sooner.

Afghanistan
Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2012

A Gathering Storm for the US: Innovate or Evaporate

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

He was voted one of the “50 Great Americans,” holds 28 honorary degrees, and received the Defense Department’s highest civilian decoration (Distinguished Service Medal) not just once, but five times. At different times, Norman R. Augustine was CEO of Martin Marietta; CEO of Lockheed Martin; chairman of the Committee on the Future of the U.S. […]

United States and Canada

Francois Hollande shakes supporters hands

New Atlanticist

Apr 12, 2012

Presuming President Hollande

By Nicholas Dungan

If François Hollande, the Socialist Party challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy, is elected president of France on May 6, he will face an immediate sizing-up of his leadership at the G8 and NATO summits on the morrow of his taking office on May 17. He should be expected to arrive at those summit meetings as a […]

France

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