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.

The Euro Crisis and Foreign Policy: Europe Has an Idea

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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Experts React

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

Jan 31, 2012

The Euro Crisis and Foreign Policy: Europe Has an Idea

By Sven Biscop

The core idea of the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy is that lasting peace and stability can only exist where governments guarantee their citizens security, prosperity, freedom, and equality.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jan 31, 2012

Is This David Cameron’s Munich?

By Julian Lindley-French

It is not without historical irony that the only other country to stand with Britain over the Fiscal Compact at yesterday’s EU Summit was the Czech Republic which Chamberlain sold out to Hitler at Munich in 1938. Last night Martin Callanan, the leader of British Conservatives in the European Parliament accused the Prime Minister of […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2012

Deterring Iran: The Return to American Statecraft

By Julian Lindley-French

On the tomb of Tamburlaine, King of Persia, there is a dread inscription, “When I rise, the world will tremble”. Faced with Tehran’s seeming determination to develop nuclear weapons the march towards confrontation this week quickened. After threats from Iran to close the oil-vital Straits of Hormuz an American aircraft carrier was joined in the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2012

Haditha Marine Sentence Triumph of Rights Over Justice

By James Joyner

When Marine Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich was handed a suspended sentence of three months on Wednesday for his role as squad leader of a group that massacred 24 unarmed Iraqis in Haditha six years ago, it naturally sparked an outrage. To many here in the U.S., in Iraq, and in the Muslim world writ large, […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2012

Brigade Combat Team Cuts Don’t Translate into Budget Savings

By John Deni

The recent announcement that the Obama administration plans to cut two of the four remaining US brigade combat teams (BCTs) in Europe came as no surprise to those tracking the ongoing debate over the future size of the American military and the Army in particular. Assuming the Army is getting smaller, it’s obviously easier to […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jan 26, 2012

Foreign Policy Challenges That Will Keep People Awake at Night

By Harlan Ullman

Suppose the very unpredictable and nasty surprises that befell presidential hopeful Mitt Romney last week somehow afflicted global politics on a far grander scale?

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2012

The State of the Union: A Missed Opportunity

By Riley Barnes

The State of the Union (SOTU) address is not usually focused on foreign policy, and rightfully so. With our current economic woes, education problems, and immigration issues, we have plenty of reason to look inward. Still, President Obama missed a great opportunity last night—one that would have only required a sentence or two. I found […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2012

New Sanctions Aimed at Averting Wider Conflict

By Barbara Slavin

European countries are imposing unprecedented sanctions against Iran in part in hopes of preventing an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear installations that could further destabilize the Middle East and wreak havoc on the global economy. The decision Monday by the European Union to phase out purchases of Iranian oil by Jul. 1 is timed to […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2012

Dancing With the Taliban

By Sarwar Kashmeri

As the United States begins its peace-dance with the Taliban it is worth remembering that on the dance floor the Taliban always believe in leading.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Jan 24, 2012

Precursor to Pakistani Coup?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The prime minister stood before the Supreme Court and explained that “while he accepted the majesty of the law and the majesty of the supreme court,” he couldn’t arrest the president of the country on charges of bribery as he enjoys “immunity under the constitution.” Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani had answered the […]

Pakistan

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