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.

NATO Defense Ministers Send Mixed Signals

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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Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2011

NATO Defense Ministers Send Mixed Signals

By Jorge Benitez

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates’ provocative speech in Brussels attracted widespread media attention, but several important decisions were made during the two-day NATO defense ministers meetings which will have a more immediate impact on the future of the alliance. The most prominent of these issues is NATO reform. Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen declared that agreements […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2011

Three Deadly Flaws

By Harlan Ullman

U.S. President Barack Obama is putting in place a new national security team from the Pentagon to the CIA. The new team will have to respond to what everyone knows will be “tough choices,” made tougher by budget cuts likely to be a lot bigger than people think. But, unless fixed, three deadly flaws make […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2011

NATO’s Half Pregnant Strategy

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2011

Exeunt Pakistan Experts, Pursued by Bear

By Shuja Nawaz

With apologies to Shakespeare’s for appropriating his memorable line from A Winter’s Tale, I worry about the state of Pakistan expertise that is fading from the scene in key Washington policy making positions.

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2011

Death of Transatlantic Relationship Wildly Exaggerated

By James Joyner

The blistering farewell speech to NATO by U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates warning of a "dim, if not dismal" future for the Alliance drew the Western public’s attention to a longstanding debate about the state of the transatlantic relationship. With prominent commenters voicing concern about much more than just a two-tiered defensive alliance, questioning whether […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2011

Trans-Atlantic Cooperation and a Spirit that Binds Us

By Mark Vlasic

Like many on both sides of the Atlantic, I watched President Barack Obama’s recent visit to Europe with great interest. And not just because this visit has taught us that President “O’Bama” is actually Irish — or the fact that he can trace his roots to the British Army (he is the grandson of a […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2011

Turkish Election: An AKP Victory with Limits

By Ross Wilson

The unprecedented third consecutive electoral victory won by Turkey’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Sunday’s parliamentary elections owes to a widespread feeling of satisfaction with eight years of the Erdogan government’s rule. According to preliminary results, the party won 50 percent of the vote. This was at the top end of expectations and exceeded […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2011

Goldilocks and Afghanistan: How Big a Withdrawal?

By Don Snow

President Obama’s stated promise to begin the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan by July 2011, a commitment he made when he committed 30,000 additional troops to the war early in his presidency, is coming near. The major question is how large a withdrawal he will order, and what the consequences of whatever size drawdown […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2011

Atlantic Update 6/13/2011

By HuiHui Ooi

Is Erdogan’s win in Turkey good for its future? NATO is in a dilemma about its future after the critical speech by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Private creditors in Europe are assuming some burden to the Greek financial crisis whereas Germany seeks to attach strings to bailout packages.

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2011

Solidarity: On the Front Line of Freedom’s Defense

By Julian Lindley-French

US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is right. "In the past, I’ve worried about NATO turning into a two-tiered alliance. Between members who specialize in ‘soft’ humanitarian, development, peacekeeping, and talking tasks, and those conducting the ‘hard’ combat missions.

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