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
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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New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2011

Pentagon’s New Cyber Strategy

By Jason Healey

The Department of Defense’s new cyber strategy, (known as “Cyber 3.0” in the Pentagon) is being released this afternoon and many cyber security professionals who read it may be disappointed that it does not say more. While there is some validity to that concern the strategy does cover important new ground on the most pressing needs […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2011

The Death of Ahmed Wali Karzai – Filling the Void

By James Cook

When Sardar Mohammad murdered Ahmed Wali Karzai, the half-brother of President Hamid Karzai, on Tuesday, he created a security and political power void in the volatile southern region of Afghanistan. The reason why Mohammad, a close associate and police commander, killed Karzai remains unclear. While the Taliban immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, others have suggested that […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 14, 2011

NATO and Strategic Cyber Capabilities

By Jason Healey

NATO must transform itself in order to deal with cyber threats and opportunities. Although currently on a strong course with a new cyber strategy, recently approved by the national defense ministers, the Alliance still has a long way yet to go.

Cybersecurity NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2011

NATO’s Official Policy on Killing Gaddafi

By Jorge Benitez

Josh Rogin’s story in Foreign Policy, “Exclusive: Top U.S. admiral admits we are trying to kill Gaddafi,” sparked considerable media attention and strengthened the perception that NATO’s air strikes in Libya are targeting Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2011

Euro-Crunch: The Grim Banker is Calling

By Julian Lindley-French

“If there is no relief, we are going straight into the abyss”. So says, Romano Prodi, one-time Italian Prime Minister and President of the Onion’s European Omission. As European Onion finance ministers gathered in Brussels to disagree about what to do over the deepening Eurozone crisis the sheer scale of the crisis and its potential […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2011

Pakistan and America: Friends, foes or in free fall?

By Harlan Ullman

When it seems U.S.-Pakistan relations cannot get worse, they do. This past week, The New York Times, perhaps coaxed by the White House or CIA, held Pakistan’s army and Inter-Services Intelligence responsible for the killing of a journalist and called for the resignation of the ISI director general. Over the weekend, it followed with a […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2011

Five Questions with Leszek Balcerowicz

By Alexei Monsarrat

Director of Global Business and Economics Alexei Monsarrat recently interviewed Professor Leszek Balcerowicz on how Greece and Europe will resolve the debt crisis. As Polish Finance Minister in 1989, Balcerowicz instituted a wide-ranging series of economic reforms to transition that country to a market economy. His “shock therapy” is widely cited as the textbook example of how […]

Economy & Business Greece

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2011

Talking with Benazir

By Julian Lindley-French

The American decision to ‘punish’ Pakistan by withdrawing some $800m of a $3 billion military aid package demonstrates Washington’s nuanced approach to dealing with Islamabad that is to be commended. Clearly, the Pakistani Government knew exactly the whereabouts of Osama Bin Laden at the time of his death in May at the hands of American […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 12, 2011

US-Iran: Tensions Mount Over Iraq, Nuke Sanctions

By Barbara Slavin

Reviving U.S.-Iran friction over Iraq may have more to do with deteriorating relations over Iran’s nuclear programme than with uncertainty over U.S. troop levels in Iraq beyond the end of this year. In recent weeks, a chorus of U.S. officials has accused Iran of providing lethal weapons to Iraqi Shiite militias that have targeted U.S. […]

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2011

South Sudan: Free at Last! Now What?

By Peter Pham

The birth this past weekend of the Republic of South Sudan as the world’s newest independent state is, in many respects, a triumph for the Atlantic community’s diplomatic efforts in general and United States leadership in particular. The acceptance of the possibility of secession was the central feature of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) […]

East Africa

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