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

Mar 18, 2011

Obama’s Libya Turnabout

By James Joyner

After two weeks of signaling that the United States would continue its pattern of not intervening in the democracy movements in the Middle East, the Obama administration suddenly persuaded the UN Security Council to authorize war to protect civilians in Libya. Was this a deliberate subterfuge or did the president change his mind? My initial […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2011

Building Afghanistan’s Police Force

By Derek Reveron

For many of the world’s countries, human security is now national security. Afghanistan is no exception. While much attention centers on building an Afghan army while NATO military forces conduct counterinsurgency operations, there is also a concerted effort to build police forces to fill the security deficit created by years of war.

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2011

NATO Goes To War. Again.

By James Joyner

Yesterday morning, it looked for all the world like the international community was resigned to Muammar Gaddafi brutally suppressing the uprising against him. Hours later, the UN Security Council unanimously authorized "all necessary measures" to protect civilians.

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2011

U.S. Response to Libya: Interview with David Ignatius

By Jason Harmala

As revolutions sweep the Middle East and leaders supported by the United States for decades are swept away, how should America respond? What lessons can the revolutionaries learn from the American revolution? Is military intervention in Libya warranted? Atlantic Council senior fellow Sarwar Kashmeri posed these questions to Washington Post associate editor and columnist David […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2011

Time to Lead in the Middle East

By Hugh De Santis

Perhaps it is the fear of Donald Rumsfeld’s “unknown unknowns” that explains why President Barack Obama has failed to take a more active role in preventing Muammar Gaddafi’s slaughter of his own people.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Mar 17, 2011

For Want of a Strategy

By Harlan Ullman

According to Washington rules, criticizing the foreign policy or strategy of any administration need not be fair or balanced. Strategy can always be attacked for being wrong regardless of the merit of the claim. Or, perhaps easier, White Houses can be accused of having no strategy at all. But, both criticisms can fit. George W. […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2011

Perfect Global Storm

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

It appeared to be the first global storm since World War II, a commingling of unrelated disasters. For Japan, it was 9/11-plus, the worst disaster since U.S. atomic bombs leveled Hiroshima and Nagasaki 65 years ago and sealed the end of the second world war in the 20th century. More than 10,000 Japanese drowned as […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/16/11

By Jason Harmala

European Union finance ministers agreed upon new measures to allow the EU greater control of national budgeting processes.

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2011

Libya Clock Running Out

By James Joyner

At the behest of Lebanon, the UN Security Council held a closed door session yesterday to discuss what measures, if any, to take against Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi. France was the strongest advocate and Russia the most skeptical of the all-important Permanent Members.

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2011

“What Is America Waiting For?” in Libya

By Don Snow

The question cited in the title is a quote from Sunday’s Washington Post attributed to a civilian in one of the Libyan cities now anticipating an attack by the forces of Colonel Gaddafi. It is a plaintive plea for help in a situation that may be starting to unravel, as forces loyal to (or bought by) the […]

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