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 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 […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/15/11

By Jason Harmala

Germany reacts to nuclear fears by taking the 7 oldest reactors offline for 3 months, and G8 powers drop plans for a Libyan no-fly zone.

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2011

Foreign Policy at the Speed of Twitter

By James Joyner

When I was in graduate school in the early 1990s and we were all trying to figure out the lay of the land in the “post-Cold War era,” international relations types were all buzzing about the so-called “CNN effect.”

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2011

NATO and the Future of Afghanistan

By Derek Reveron

The media coverage of the NATO Defense Ministers meetings last weekend was replete with discussion regarding Afghanistan. After all, it is the largest mission the Alliance has undertaken during its history and its first outside of Europe. While the Afghan people have the most to gain or lose from NATO’s decisions, the ministerial has reopened […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/14/11

By Jason Harmala

Following explosions at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant, Europe re-assesses its nuclear energy future. Meanwhile, France continues its pressure on allies to enact a no-fly zone over Libya, after the Arab League passed a resolution supporting such a measure.

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2011

Before Internet

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist factions staged hit-and-run attacks against government buildings and officials in the early 1980s and almost succeeded in killing the president of a country that has remained eerily quiet during the geopolitical tsunami that is still sweeping the Arab world. You’re supposed to guess which country. The president was on […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2011

Iran and the Arab Sandstorm

By Jonathan Paris

Much has been said about Iran taking advantage of the instability in the Arab world to increase tensions. Sending two ships through the Suez Canal to a Syrian port, at this time, signalled Iran’s desire to project Iranian power far beyond its neighbourhood. But such stunts miss the point. The more important consequences of the […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 11, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/11/11

By Jason Harmala

The U.S. warns NATO allies against a quick Afghanistan troop drawdown, and the EU is holding a crisis summit to discuss Libya.

New Atlanticist

Mar 10, 2011

NATO Action Cannot Replace A Security Council Resolution in Libya

By Sarwar Kashmeri

As the situation in Libya becomes daily more chaotic, pressure mounts on President Obama to militarily intervene on the side of the Libyan opposition. He should resist these calls. Without a clear mandate from the United Nations Security Council in support of Libyan intervention, the United States has little to gain, and much to lose […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

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