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.

Two Viktors and Two “Signals”

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.

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Two Viktors and Two “Signals”

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

Two Viktors and Two “Signals”

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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New Atlanticist

Sep 20, 2011

Two Viktors and Two “Signals”

By Taras Kuzio

A Kyiv court was set to sentence opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to a lengthy prison sentence last week but unexpectedly the trial was postponed to September 27 after the US and EU sent strong warnings to the Viktor Yanukovych administration to halt these politically motivated trials. Not coincidentally the postponement is until only two days […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 20, 2011

US in a Bind Over Palestine’s Bid for UN Recognition

By Barbara Slavin

The Palestinian drive for statehood status at the United Nations injects new uncertainty into an already volatile Middle East, threatening to further isolate Israel and diminish already dwindling U.S. influence in the region. Barring some last-minute breakthrough that would revive negotiations or otherwise advance their national aspirations, Palestinian officials appear bent on seeking, at a […]

International Organizations Middle East

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2011

What Palestine’s UN Bid Means for Middle East Peace

By Hugh De Santis

The Palestinian bid for statehood at this week’s United Nations General Assembly meeting could well trigger the perfect storm in the Middle East. As if the tempestuous relations between Israel and the Palestinians needed added turbulence, Turkey has entered the fray as the defender of the Palestinians and aspiring leader of the Arab-Islamic world. Increasingly marginalized in […]

International Organizations Middle East

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2011

A Transatlantic Weakness to Avoid

By Carles Castello-Catchot

The transatlantic community is weaker and more divided than it has been in a century, sending shockwaves through a world accustomed to seeing the US and the EU lead by example on a global scale.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 19, 2011

Afghanistan Now a Pointless War?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

We should have declared the Afghan war won last May 3, the day after a U.S. SEAL team killed Osama bin Laden and buried him in the Arabian Sea. That was the advice given in Washington last week by a former spy chief who played a key role in the Saudi-Pakistan-U.S. alliance that defeated the […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2011

As Iran Edges Closer to Nukes

By Barbara Slavin

One country is likely to get increasing attention during the presidential campaign: Iran. So it is important to frame the debate about Iran correctly — without hyping or underestimating the possibility it will get nuclear weapons in the near future. Compared to four countries that have developed nuclear weapons outside international norms — Israel, India, […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2011

A Modest Proposal for Pan-European Defense

By Nikolas Gvosdev

The idea of intra-alliance military specialization in Europe is attractive in theory, but problematic in practice. Instead, officials should pursue a two-tiered pan-European defense force, which would facilitate deployment beyond Europe and improve effeciency using economies of scale. The recent candid remarks by Stefan Wallin, Finland’s defense minister, that conditions of growing austerity might require […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2011

Moscow Plans for a Post-NATO Afghanistan

By Jakub Kulhanek

The looming withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan slated for 2014 poses for Moscow a serious geopolitical predicament. In spite of their conspicuous silence on the matter, Russian officials have been growing increasingly uneasy about the potential vacuum. Yet still some in the Russian leadership see this as a welcome opportunity to expand […]

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2011

The Reality of 9/11-Related Predictions of Cyber Attacks

By Jason Healey

After the 9/11 attacks a decade ago, it seemed that threats were waiting for us around every border, hiding in every cave, and ready to pounce from everywhere, including cyberspace. To be sure, some of those threats did in fact materialize against the United States, our allies and interests.

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2011

Article 5 Ten Years On: Division or Unity?

By Simona Kordosova

Ten years ago, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time in its history. Paradoxically, a treaty provision created to guarantee American assistance in case of a Soviet attack on Europe instead brought Europe to the aide of the United States in Afghanistan. Since then, […]

NATO Security & Defense
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