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

New Atlanticist

Mar 1, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/1/11

By Jason Harmala

Germany’s Defense Minister resigns amid the plagiarism scandal, and the EU is criticized over its response to the Middle East crises.

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2011

Libya No-Fly Zone: An Idea That Won’t Fly

By Magnus Nordenman

With the crisis in Libya moving at a breakneck speed, some have begun to call for the U.S. and NATO to do more to assist the opposition and halt human rights abuses perpetrated by the Gaddafi regime. The measures being proposed include a no-fly zone, which would prevent the regime from using airpower to suppress […]

Libya

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2011

Bonded in Blood: The U.S.-Afghan Relationship

By Derek Reveron

Afghanistan’s senior national security leaders were in Washington, D.C. last week for bilateral meetings. At the Pentagon on February 23, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates welcomed Afghanistan’s ministers of defense and interior for the first of what officials expect to be regular meetings to sustain a long-term military-to-military relationship. The message is consistent with what […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2011

Why is the West Missing the Wave in the Middle East?

By Kurt Volker

One of the great challenges in intelligence analysis is predicting big changes. The safest analysis is nearly always that the forces that have shaped things until now will continue. A continuation of the status quo is thus the most likely outcome – right up to the moment that status quo disappears. This makes policymakers cautious. […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 28, 2011

Atlantic Update 2/28/11

By Jason Harmala

The resignation of President Sarkozy’s foreign minister prompted a cabinet reshuffle, and British PM Cameron debates the need for a military no-fly zone over Libya.

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2011

Atlantic Update 2/25/11

By Jason Harmala

NATO’s North Atlantic Council convenes an emergency meeting to discuss Libya, President Sarkozy arrives in Turkey on Friday to discuss the EU’s response to Middle East turmoil, and the EU downplays Italy’s fears of a mass Libyan exodus to Europe.

New Atlanticist

Feb 25, 2011

Gaddafi: Manic Depressive Megalomaniac

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

In the late 1970s, Egyptian Foreign Minister Boutros Boutros-Ghali couldn’t figure out why African summit meetings unanimously voted against Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. So he decided to sprinkle his delegation with intelligence gumshoes for the next summit in Sierra Leone in 1980. Their mission: Find out what kind of chicanery was going on behind […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2011

U.S. Military Running PsyOps Against Congress? Probably Not.

By James Joyner

The Rolling Stone correspondent whose expose last July ended Stanley McChrystal’s career has identified "Another Runaway General." Or so he says.

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2011

Global Watercooler 2011-02-24

By Frederick Kempe

Editor’s Note: Following are a few musings from the office of the Atlantic Council president about what globally minded Atlanticists will be buzzing about today. This is a new feature that will appear regularly on our forthcoming THINKING GLOBAL blog. A Transatlantic Test in Libya Secure phone and internet lines have been burning up between […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2011

Yanukovych Report Card: One Year of Power

By Adrian Karatnycky

On the first anniversary of the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, it is entirely appropriate to offer an overall report card on the performance of Ukraine’s new leader and his government team. This article attempts to do so by comparing the actions and policies of Yanukovych and his Prime Minister Mykola Azarov with the state of […]

Ukraine

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