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.

Gates: NATO a Two-Tiered Alliance with a Dim, Dismal Future

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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New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2011

Gates: NATO a Two-Tiered Alliance with a Dim, Dismal Future

By James Joyner

Rumors that Robert Gates would deliver a provocative farewell to the European allies were well founded. Going further than he had to date, he bluntly warned that NATO has become a two-tiered Alliance and said it faces a "dim, if not dismal" future. Gates has been displaying increasing frustration with the European Allies and pointedly criticized Germany, Poland, Spain, Turkey, and […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2011

Protecting Humanitarian Interests in Cyber Conflict

By Jason Healey

Recently, the EastWest Institute held a conference that, among other topics, considered possible “markers” for cyber warfare. As they described the potential problem, “The Geneva and Hague Conventions direct that protected entities, protected personnel and protected assets [such as doctors, ambulances, or hospitals] be marked in a clearly visible and distinctive way [e.g., with a […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2011

Tribute to Ron Asmus: Remembering an Architect of a Europe Whole and Free

By Damon Wilson

Today in Wroclaw, Poland, the Atlantic Council will posthumously award Ron Asmus its annual Freedom Award for his contribution to building a Europe whole, free and at peace. Many U.S. leaders played a critical role in advancing this vision and giving the United States a defining role in post-Cold War Europe. President George H.W. Bush, President Bill […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2011

Atlantic Update 6/10/2011

By HuiHui Ooi

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed his views on NATO’s dim future and Europe’s lack of commitment to NATO. Russia is making deals to secure its energy security whereas the European Central Bank continues to assist Greece in tackling its financial crisis. Europe also takes the lead in buiding a UN resolution against Syria instead of […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2011

Military Attack on Iran Recedes, but Tensions Remain High

By Barbara Slavin

The likelihood of a U.S. or Israeli military attack on Iran’s nuclear installations seems miniscule during the remaining months of the Barack Obama administration’s first term. The U.S. is focused on domestic economic problems, winding down wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and stabilising emerging democracies in Egypt and Tunisia. Israel is preoccupied with Arab […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2011

The Other Side of COIN

By James Joyner

While most of the media attention to NATO’s Afghanistan operation has been on the kinetic operations, the war has no chance of ending successfully unless Afghans can provide their own security. Largely neglected until two years ago, that "other side of COIN" is showing promise. Yesterday, the Atlantic Council hosted a delegation from NATO Training […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2011

Is the Two-State Solution in Palestine Dead?

By Don Snow

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Washington last week with a tremendous tactical victory. By skillfully marshaling sympathetic Americans through AIPAC, he managed to deflect the speech by President Obama two days before he arrived that had argued for–even demanded–the resumption of Israeli-Palestine peace talks aimed at creating separate Jewish and Arab states (the 1948 […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2011

The Transatlantic Two

By James Joyner

Fresh from a week in Europe working to give a boost to the transatlantic partnership, President Obama brought the leader of Europe’s most important country to the White House to present America’s highest award. In an East Room joint press conference yesterday morning, Obama declared "Germany is one of our strongest allies" and observed, "We see our […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2011

Everyone Needs a Dragon Slayer

By Julian Lindley-French

“A thousand hearts are great within my bosom; Advance our standards, set upon our foes; Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George, inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons! Upon them! victory sits on our helms”. Richard III, William Shakespeare. Krakow, Poland. What role does national myth play in forging national identity and […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2011

Too Big to Fail or Too Big to Fix?

By Harlan Ullman

“Too Big To Fail” is about the financial crisis that hit global banking institutions in the late summer of 2008 nearly bringing down the whole system. It is instructive and cautionary in a much wider application. Too many problems and institutions may be too big to fail. And, as a corollary, are they also paradoxically […]

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