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.

Cyber Statecraft: Linking Geeks and Wonks to Respond to National Security Incidents

New Atlanticist
Sep 4, 2025

Dispatches from Damascus: The state of Syria’s postwar transition nine months after Assad’s fall

On a recent trip to the Syrian capital, Atlantic Council experts took note of how far the country has come since the Assad regime’s fall and what still needs to happen to secure peace and prosperity.

New Atlanticist
Aug 29, 2025

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine

By
Atlantic Council experts

August saw a flurry of diplomatic activity to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As September nears, Atlantic Council experts share their insights on what to expect next.

Conflict
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist
Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By
Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military.

Defense Policy
Europe & Eurasia

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Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

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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.

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New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2011

Cyber Statecraft: Linking Geeks and Wonks to Respond to National Security Incidents

By Jason Healey

There are many reasons why cyber conflict is considered an awkward and destabilizing national security problem. One of the more overlooked is the gap between the technical elite and senior politicians and policymakers, a disconnect that could become tragic during fast-moving cyber conflicts.

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jul 19, 2011

Afghanistan’s Women Face a Dangerous and Uncertain Future

By Anna Borshchevskaya

As President Obama announced his decision to withdraw 33,000 U.S. troops from Afghanistan by next summer, the Taliban vowed to continue fighting and dismissed as “symbolic” Obama’s withdrawal announcement. “There is no negotiation with the United States or with any other countries and we deny any report about such kind of peace talks,” said Taliban […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2011

Mr. President, Time to Stop Digging Yourself Into a Hole

By David Kramer-Damon Wilson and Robert Nurick

David J. Kramer, Damon Wilson and Robert Nurick write: Relentless prosecutions of Tymoshenko, other Yanukovych opponents lack credibility.

European Union
International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2011

Language Cuts Endanger US

By Madeleine Albright and Chuck Hagel

On May 1, after more than a decade, the search for Osama bin Laden came to an end. It took patience and perseverance. And it took not only military prowess, but also intelligence that depended on a solid understanding of that region of the world and capabilities in a number of foreign languages that are […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jul 18, 2011

French Diplomacy as it Evolves from the G8 to the G20

By Ralph Winnie

Traditionally, French diplomacy has been dominated by almost exclusive representation of the French aristocracy who controlled the selection and promotion processes of French diplomatic service. It is interesting to note that rising up through this system was Jean David Levitte, currently the top advisor to President Nicolas Sarkozy, who became the first foreign born president […]

France

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2011

US-Morocco Treaty Partnership at 225

By Peter Pham

Today marks the 225th anniversary of the longest unbroken treaty relationship to which the United States is a party. On July 15, 1786 (18 Ramadan 1200), in Marrakech, American agent Thomas Barclay was handed the final protocol of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship by his Moroccan counterpart Taher Ben Abdelhack Fennish. Certified translations of […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2011

Nervousness About Ukraine Exaggerated

By Adrian Karatnycky

“I wear this wristband in solidarity with the people of Belarus. I sincerely hope that we will not be wearing similar bracelets in support of Ukraine.” This was the dramatic declaration by Freedom House Executive Director David Kramer at a recent Washington D.C. panel in which I also took part.

Ukraine

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

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