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

Apr 15, 2011

NATO Back in the Saddle

By James Joyner

NATO’s operations in Libya got off to a rocky start. Although the venerable treaty organization’s member countries — principally Britain, France, and the United States — were dropping bombs on Muammar al-Qaddafi’s military as soon as the ink was dry on the March 17 U.N. Security Council resolution authorizing a no-fly zone over Libya, as […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2011

IMF Tackling Global Trade Imbalances

By Susan Schadler

Approaching a weekend of IMF spring meetings it is sensible to ask whether the agenda is right. The IMF will roll out a full agenda of initiatives to address global imbalances. These are important issues, but form a narrow agenda given current global vulnerabilities. In placing all its efforts in one objective, the IMF’s spring […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2011

Welcome to NATO Operation Protecting Disunity

By Julian Lindley-French

Don’t you just love NATO speak? Yesterday in Berlin NATO Foreign Ministers settled down to a working lunch to discuss ‘progress’ on Operation Unified Protector (OUP) in the skies over Libya. Personally, I have never been able to eat and think which could explain the ensuing Statement on Libya, which in its brevity and truth […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/15/11

By Klee Aiken

President Obama, Prime Minister Cameron, and President Sarkozy appeal to the public in today’s New York Times, Le Figaro, and Times of London, while NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen writes in to The Washington Post, arguing that "NATO made the right call in Libya." The NATO theme continues throughout the papers as yesterday’s Foreign […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2011

Operation Libyan Freedom

By Harlan Ullman

The stated political aim of NATO and the coalition now conducting military operations over Libya authorized by U.N. Security Resolution 1973 to “use all necessary measures” to protect civilians is to end the rule of Moammar Gadhafi and his regime. But when queried about the seeming inconsistency between the military objective of protecting civilians and […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2011

Coming Geopolitical Upheaval

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Take the last two digits of the year in which you were born, then add the age you will be this year – and the result will be 111 for everyone born in the 20th century. This year will also experience four unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11/ 11/11/11. October 2011 will have five Sundays, five […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/14/11

By Klee Aiken

Today Europe is preoccupied with finance. Finland threatens to block the Portuguese bail out, The European Commission looks to increase its budget, and Greece is on the edge of further unrest as austerity measures lead to restructuring. Meanwhile in Berlin NATO foreign ministers discuss the way forward in Libya including the recent call for Gaddafi […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2011

Obama Must Not Delay in Brokering a New Mideast Peace

By Brent Scowcroft

The ‘Arab Spring’ that is flowering in fits and starts in most countries of the Middle East has significantly altered the geopolitical situation in the region, and is likely to have a profound effect on American interests. No one knows how or when the region will settle down, and there is little that the US […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2011

Feeding Pakistan’s Paranoia

By Shuja Nawaz

Behind all the talk of a strategic dialogue and strategic partnership between the United States and Pakistan lurks the reality of a persistent transactional relationship, based on short-term objectives that intrude rudely into the limelight every time a drone attack kills civilians inside Pakistan or in the instance when an American “operative” is caught by […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2011

Obama’s Very Conventional Foreign Policy

By James Joyner

Harvard’s Stephen Walt reflects on the impending game of musical chairs at the top levels of the Obama administration’s foreign policy team: I don’t think these changes are going to make much difference. It’s not like Obama will be replacing the current set of officials with people who have a fundamentally different perspective on foreign and defense […]

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