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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New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2010

On Strategy in Afghanistan

By Bernard Finel

I think it is worthwhile to spend a little time discussing the issue of “strategy” as a concept because I think a significant source of tension and dispute in recent debates is due to a misunderstanding of some of the key elements of the term.

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2010

Nuke Outlaw as Pakistani President?

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Pakistan’s nuclear weapons renegade, who sold nuclear secrets to America’s enemies (Iran, North Korea and Libya) and spent the best part of the last decade under house arrest, is still Pakistan’s most popular man. Last week, Abdul Qadeer Khan, now a free man, was a guest on ARY, one of Pakistan’s most popular TV channels […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2010

Turning Point in Turkish Democracy

By James Joyner

Turkey reformed its constitution over the weekend, in what Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised "will go down in history as a turning point in Turkish democracy." But there’s strong disagreement over which way it’s headed. Both the United States and the EU lauded the measures. Some 58 percent of Turkish voters Sunday voted in […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2010

Europeans’ Afghan Apathy and Consequences for NATO

By Steve Hynd

Across the pond, public support for NATO’s out-of-area adventure is cratering. The wide-ranging Transatlantic Trends study by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) also saw deep divisions between Europe and the United States on how to handle Iran’s nuclear ambitions. While 51 percent of Americans said they were confident that Afghanistan could […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2010

Yanukovych’s Democratic Steamroller

By Alexander Motyl

Ukraine’s already weak democracy has just received three body blows from the government of President Viktor Yanukovych.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2010

Today’s Realities Need New Responses

By Harlan Ullman

What an irony! Last week, the celebrations of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan; Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year; and the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, attacks fell on consecutive days — an extraordinary proximate coincidence given how far apart Islam and Judeo-Christianity remain whether over threats to […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2010

Roma Showdown Tests Limits of EU Power

By James Joyner

The EU is vowing to take action against France for its expulsion of hundreds of Roma, setting up a showdown that will test the sovereignty of one of Europe’s most powerful countries against the newly empowered European Commission. Last week, as Leo Cendrowicz reported for Time ("E.U. Tries to Stop France’s Crackdown on Gypsies"), Brussels […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 13, 2010

NATO in Afghanistan: Perception and Reality

By James Joyner

Anatol Lieven, the eminent journalist and now professor at the King’s College Department of War Studies, argues that the NATO effort in Afghanistan suffers from disparate and implausible motives and a profound lack of understanding of Afghanistan and the Taliban. In a very long book review essay at Current Intelligence, Lieven offers this assessment of […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 13, 2010

Kissinger’s Swan Song for World Order

By Kenneth Weisbrode

The other day in Geneva, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger delivered the keynote address of the annual meeting of the International Institute of Strategic Studies. His topic was the present and future state of world order – not an unfamiliar topic to him or to his audience.

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2010

It’s time for the Senate to vote on New START

By George Shultz-Madeleine Albright-Gary Hart and Chuck Hagel

The Senate should promptly vote to approve the New Strategic Arms Reductions Treaty (New START) with Russia for one reason: It increases U.S. national security. This is precisely why Defense Secretary Robert Gates declared at the outset of Senate consideration of the treaty that it has "the unanimous support of America’s military leadership." The treaty […]

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