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

May 16, 2011

America’s New Cyberspace Strategy

By Jason Healey

At an Atlantic Council event last year, the singer Bono declared, “From rock stars in DC to street kids in Rio, from Harlem to Haiti, from Cape Town to Cairo, we all have a stake in this word America.” The White House’s new International Strategy for Cyberspace [PDF] roots that promise of rights and freedoms for all […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2011

Raging at Rawalpindi

By Shuja Nawaz

The United States has long complained that Pakistan’s military and intelligence services are playing a double game when it comes to terrorism and extremism: publicly promising cooperation-and indeed delivering some-while privately supporting America’s enemies. They point to Pakistan’s apparent reluctance to take on groups like the Haqqaani network, a Taliban affiliate that launches attacks on […]

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2011

Premature Celebration

By Robert Bracknell

Osama bin Laden is dead, radio stations are playing tough-sounding Toby Keith and patriotic Lee Greenwood songs, and the Washington Nationals are even giving away free tickets to military members, in a broad-based gesture of gratitude for 10 years of dogged pursuit of the terrorist rogue. Pundits are deconstructing the raid and its planning to […]

New Atlanticist

May 16, 2011

Atlantic Update 5/16/11

By Klee Aiken

Europe reacts to the arrest of IMF head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, France’s "first "Anglo-Saxon" sex scandal." Britain calls for widening the range of targets over Libya, while eyeing further defense cuts within, and Medvedev is irked by what is seen as sidelining Russia out of European missile defense.

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2011

The Perfect Storm in Af-Pak

By Shuja Nawaz

With the killing of Osama bin Laden, attention has shifted to the endgame in Afghanistan. But a persistent problem remains inside Pakistan: the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban. This homegrown terrorist organization swore war against the state when the army was sent into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. For the past […]

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2011

Sunni Monarchies Close Ranks

By Barbara Slavin

Reports that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is considering some form of membership for two non-Gulf states – Jordan and Morocco – confirm that the conservative Sunni monarchies of the Middle East are closing ranks against Iran, Shiite-led Iraq and the democratic wave sweeping the region. GCC secretary general Abdullatif al-Zayani made the announcement Tuesday […]

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2011

Atlantic Update 5/13/11

By Klee Aiken

The German economy has "eclipsed" pre-crisis levels, Der Spiegel boldly proclaims, a fair enough statement the Economist retorts – however, where is the matching foreign policy? Comparing Nicolas Sarkozy’s hawkish rooster, to Germany’s "unadventurous eagle," has not necessarily helped the President in the polls. At least the Arctic Council and Catherine Ashton are on the […]

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2011

Pakistan: Paradigm Lost

By Shuja Nawaz

The United States’ raid deep into the heart of Pakistan on May 2 (local time) to terminate Osama bin Laden without the knowledge of Pakistani authorities and military was a shock to the bilateral relationship on the one hand and to the status quo inside Pakistan on the other. Things cannot be the same in […]

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2011

The Lawfulness of Killing Bin Laden

By Robert Bracknell

Much has been made of the recent revelations that Osama bin Laden was unarmed at the moment he was killed by U.S. special operations forces in close quarters battle. Let us put this issue to rest with dispatch, once and for all: Killing bin Ladin was not an extrajudicial execution, a murder, or a war […]

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2011

Energy: NATO’s Tool for Success

By Rachel Posner

With headlines about unrest in the Middle East and oil prices jumping to the highest level since 2008, energy has again risen to the forefront of the public agenda. But for those of us in the national security arena, energy should never fall from our radar. Energy is critical to military operations – for the […]

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