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.

NATO’s Libya Command and Control Debate Explained

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

Mar 23, 2011

NATO’s Libya Command and Control Debate Explained

By James Joyner

A former official with long experience on NATO sends along a concise, if slightly tongue-in-cheek, guide to the intra-alliance debate over NATO’s role in Libya: The Italians want NATO to take over so they can avoid national responsibility (ie, tell their Arab friends "it’s not us, it’s NATO, so we don’t have a choice"). The […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2011

Atlantic Update 3/23/11: Transatlantic Perspectives Toward Libya

By Klee Aiken

The United States, France, and the United Kingdom have led the diplomatic and coalition effort against forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi in Libya. However, wider coalition support and participation of the Arab League and the broader transatlantic community is essential for the Obama administration, which is keen on avoiding comparisons to the diplomatic rift caused […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2011

Libya: Why Turning on a Dime Made Sense

By Damon Wilson

Second-guessing is a Washington pastime. Critics are chastising the Obama administration for "turning on a dime" and, after much reluctance to become involved in Libya, moving too quickly to use force against the Gaddafi regime. They argue that the administration’s about-face last Tuesday night has resulted in a lack of clarity in the mission, minimal […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2011

Libya Primer: Who is In Charge of Allied Forces?

By Jorge Benitez

There is a lot of speculation and misunderstanding about the existing command and control structure for the international military operation in Libya. The truth in this case is not pretty and in flux. The command and control structure of the coalition is messy and complicated. But keep in mind that the current structure was created […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2011

Libya Fight Will Test Coalition Resolve

By James Joyner

The Arab League, whose call for action in Libya was a key factor in persuading President Obama to join France and the UK in fighting for an international military response, has quickly condemned said response. WaPo‘s Edward Cody ("Arab League condemns broad Western bombing campaign in Libya"): The Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa, deplored […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 19, 2011

Libya Mission Creep Inevitable

By James Joyner

We’ll see, within days or perhaps even hours, what it is that the United States and its allies actually plan to do to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1973, but there are already strong indications of what the intended policy is. Dave Schuler correctly notes that the Security Council Resolution on Libya "authorizes member states to act […]

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 […]

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