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
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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

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.

Markup

Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2011

NATO’s Surreal World

By Sarwar Kashmeri

From the International Herald Tribune, June 23, 2011: Has the Atlantic alliance outlived its usefulness? The British journalist and writer Geoffrey Wheatcroft raised that question in an opinion article (“Who needs NATO?,” June 16) that drew a strong reaction from Ivo H. Daalder, the U.S. permanent representative to NATO, who argued that the alliance is […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 22, 2011

What Does Russia Want?

By Julian Lindley-French

22 June, 2011. At 0315 hours seventy years ago to the day Axis powers attacked the Soviet Union. Some 4.5 million Axis soldiers attacked the Red Army on a 2900km (1800 miles) long front. Adolf Hitler said, “we have only to kick in the door and the whole rotten structure will come crashing down’. Less […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2011

A Tale of Two Gates

By Banning Garrett

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on June 10th painted a very grim picture of NATO’s possible future – and thus the future U.S. role in Europe and prospects for U.S.-European cooperation. Less than a week earlier, the same Secretary Gates had outlined a bullish future for the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region – a U.S. […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 21, 2011

Afghan Surge Ending, Afghan War Marches On

By James Joyner

When he announced the Afghan Surge, President Obama promised a "significant" withdrawal starting in July 2011. Now, he’s set to announce the withdrawal of a mere 30,000 troops by the end of 2012, CNN reports. Thus, he’ll barely reverse the surge itself and do so much later than his announced deadline. The announcement will be in a […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2011

7 Questions with Bahaa Hariri

By Damon Wilson

Damon Wilson, Executive Vice President, Atlantic Council, interviewed Bahaa Hariri, the late Lebanese prime minister’s eldest son and a prominent business leader, on his views on developments in the Middle East, his father’s legacy, and his vision for the Councils’ new Rafik Hariri Center on the Middle East. On May 3, 2011, at the Atlantic […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2011

Comparing Norms for National Conduct in Cyberspace

By Jason Healey

Over the past few years, many states, intergovernmental organizations, and think tanks have offered proposals for new norms and principles to govern activity in cyberspace. We’re nearing a bifurcation between east and west. There is significant overlap between the proposals of the United States and United Kingdom and significant agreement between them and those of the […]

Cybersecurity
Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2011

The European Onion and the End of the Euro-Republic?

By Julian Lindley-French

Sallust wrote, “Only a few prefer liberty – the majority seek nothing more than fair masters." What does the Euro crisis say about the state of Europe and the European Onion? I am back in Rome – the Eternal City, writing your blog from a perch on the Aventine Hill. Rome and the Tiber flow […]

European Union
International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 20, 2011

Atlantic Update 6/20/2011

By HuiHui Ooi

The Czech Republic announced a surprise exit from the U.S.-backed European missile shield proposal last week. Greece fights to handle its internal chaos as its people are protesting against stricter austerity measures whereas the Eurozone financial ministers are pressuring Greece to approve these measures before they decide on the second Greek loan. In order to […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2011

The Gates Speech Aftermath

By Nikolas Gvosdev

The “farewell address” delivered by outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to the North Atlantic Alliance last Friday was a stark warning that “business as usual” cannot continue much longer.

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2011

Could a Turkish Buffer Enable a New Syria?

By Anna Borshchevskaya

Almost 10,000 Syrian refugees have entered Turkey over the last several days, as the Syrian government escalates its crackdown on protesters. While this is a large number, the Turkish daily Posta suggests Ankara fears much worse—that a civil war in Syria could flood Turkey with 200,000 more refugees. During a recent summit in Ankara, Turkish […]

Share

Issue briefs and reports