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.

What the Intelligence Community Can Learn from the Postal Service

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

Apr 26, 2011

What the Intelligence Community Can Learn from the Postal Service

By Josh Kerbel

In light of recent developments in the Mideast, many in Washington are doubting—once again—the Intelligence Community’s (IC) performance. However, if the IC really wants to understand and address those doubts it won’t just conduct another "lessons learned" study. Rather, it will also take a good hard look at another government entity whose performance is under scrutiny: the US Postal Service. […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 26, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/26/11

By Klee Aiken

Today marks 25 years since the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl – an event brought closer to home by the current crisis in Fukushima. Italy steps up to bat in Libya, while in Rome Prime Minister Berlusconi is set to meet with French President Sarkozy to resolve the ongoing migration dispute. Poland continues to squabble with […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2011

Ukraine: Bread Basket of China?

By Mary Micevych

As Ukraine seeks to double its global grain export, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov used his visit this week to a trade summit in China as a platform to showcase his country’s agricultural investment and trade potential. Although the EU remains Ukraine’s largest trading partner, Azarov used the summit to set the sights further abroad, pursuing […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2011

U.S. ‘Kleptocracy’ Initiative Key to Mideast Future

By Mark Brzezinski

Outrage at corruption is the common denominator of the upheaval sweeping the Middle East. It was corruption at the fruit market, where a fruit vendor set himself ablaze after being exploited by arrogant police, which sparked the revolution that ousted Tunisia’s leader. In Egypt, university graduates who couldn’t get a job without some connection to […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 25, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/25/11

By Klee Aiken

With the rise of populist parties across the continent, is Europe moving the the right? ask the Spiegel Staff. Russia makes long term plans in Sevastopol, NATO bombs Gaddafi’s compound, and German Foreign Minister Westerwelle comes under fire.

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2011

Europe Falters in Efforts to Implement the UN Resolution in Libya

By Hugh De Santis

NATO’s management of the UN-sanctioned campaign to take “all necessary measures” to protect Libyan civilians is looking more futile by the day. Reminiscent of Europe’s hapless effort to assert leadership following the breakup of Yugoslavia in 1991, internal bickering has once again precluded military cohesion and made mockery of the European Union’s Common Foreign and Security […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2011

Chinese Takeaway

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

While World Bank President Robert Zoellick warns that the world is "one shock away from a full-blown crisis," China has broken ground and taken over the economic future of a country whose nearest island to the U.S. mainland is Bimini, only 50 miles away. The Nassau Guardian editorialized: "The Bahamas has fallen fully into the […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 22, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/22/11

By Klee Aiken

With the White House looking to engage Moscow over tactical nuclear weapons reductions, Russia is out and about with Prime Minister Putin chatting with Vice President Joe Biden and President Medvedev meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Happy Birthday to Belgium on the first birthday of its record breaking stint without a government. Joyeux […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 21, 2011

Securing North Africa’s oasis of stability

By J. Peter Pham

As the cloud of uncertainty continues to hover North Africa—with the ultimate outcomes of the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt still to be determined and unrest spreading in Algeria, especially in the Kabylie region, to say nothing of the fate of the revolt in Libya—it is somewhat befuddling that the Obama administration has not done […]

North & West Africa Sahel

New Atlanticist

Apr 21, 2011

Obama Administration and Pentagon Clashing Over Libya

By James Joyner

HuffPo’s David Wood begins a post titled "Obama White House, Pentagon At Odds Over Libya Policy" with this: After 26 months in office, President Obama still has not forged a smoothly working national security team that can both nimbly pounce on military crises and deftly manage festering problems, say current and former U.S. officials. As in previous […]

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