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
Jul 29, 2025

The Russia pressure menu: Options to convince Putin to negotiate on Ukraine

As the US president cuts his deadline for Russia to ten days, there are several options for him to increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace.

New Atlanticist
Jul 24, 2025

Dispatch from Manila: A lesson in calling out Chinese maritime aggression

By
Markus Garlauskas, Philip W. Yu

As the Philippines has focused more on Chinese threats to itself, Manila also seems increasingly inclined to see its own security as connected to that of the broader region.

China
Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist
Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By
Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

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New Atlanticist

Apr 20, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/20/11

By Klee Aiken

As France and Italy join Britain in sending advisers into Libya, Hungary strikes back at Berlin responding to criticisms over its new constitution. The Economist explores the U.S.-Russian reset while Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin outlines an ambitious blueprint for Russia (and perhaps a platform for a Presidential bid). And the European Union asks for […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 19, 2011

Goodluck’s Win—and Nigeria’s

By Peter Pham

When on Monday evening Attahiru Jega, chairman of Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan the winner of the country’s presidential election, he modestly declared, “We have done our best to satisfy the aspirations of Nigerians for free, fair, and credible elections.”

New Atlanticist

Apr 19, 2011

Trade Deals Require Involvement from Obama and Other Heads of State

By Daniel Price

The Obama administration is helpfully moving forward on bilateral trade deals with Korea, Colombia and Panama, finally abandoning “don’t ask, don’t tell” as its trade policy. But global trade talks at the Geneva-based World Trade Organization are limping into their 10th year. The WTO’s director general recently likened them to a stuck mule, warning of […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 19, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/19/11

By Klee Aiken

NATO members seek to break the stalemate in Libya, as NATO forces strike Gaddafi’s command and control facilities and the United Kingdom announces it will send military officers to the rebel city of Benghazi to provide logistical support and intelligence training. Within Europe Hungary’s new constitution ruffles feathers and commentators continue to puzzle over Angela […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 18, 2011

The Dying Peace Constituency

By Mehreen Zahra-Malik

“Unless it starts to behave, why should India not treat Pakistan like the errant child that it is and simply ignore it?” thundered a journalist from The Hindu. “You can’t ignore it even if you tried,” a Pakistani security analyst said in challenge. “I can tell you from my experience as a parent that ignoring […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 18, 2011

Atlantic Update 4/18/11

By Klee Aiken

As Italy and France continue to clash over immigration, on Friday EU Economy Chief Olli Rehn optimistically declared the eurozone rescue mission as at an "end game." However Sunday’s general election in Finland could derail his proclamation, as many see the rise of the True Finns party as a real threat to the Portugal bailout.

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 […]

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