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

Jul 23, 2010

The Peace Chimera: India and Pakistan

By Cyril Almeida

The India-Pakistan relationship has been fraught. But there are signs of a thaw emerging in what had been a frozen relationship ever since former President Pervez Musharraf’s back channel diplomacy faltered in 2007 as his political power began to wane. As a result, it took a major effort by both sides to reopen the dialogue. […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2010

Satellite Saga

By David Smith

The Paris Court of Commerce last week handed a victory to the Russian propaganda machine, allowing French satellite operator Eutelsat—one quarter French Government-owned—to bar Tbilisi-based First Caucasus Television from one of its broadcast satellites. For now, this prevents First Caucasus from reaching most of its intended Russian-speaking audience. Nonetheless, the station is determined to get […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2010

Romania, Bulgaria Face EU Music on Anti-Corruption Reforms: View from Europe

By Scott Bleiweis

While Romania and Bulgaria both joined the EU in 2007, it is clear the two new members still have a long way to go to satisfy standards set by the European Commission for anti-corruption reforms. An EU Commission document released earlier this week updated the status of Romanian and Bulgarian efforts in combating rampant fraud, […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 22, 2010

OSCE Meeting: Kazakhstan’s Triumph Leaves Much Work to be Done

By Jeffrey Lightfoot and Matt Czekaj

Last week’s informal ministerial meeting of the OSCE in Almaty, Kazakhstan resulted in two important decisions. First, the OSCE agreed to send 52 police officers to Kyrgyzstan to assist and monitor the local authorities in the aftermath of June’s interethnic violence in the south. Second, ministers agreed to convene a summit of heads of state […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2010

Politics Is Local, Principles Are Not

By James Joyner

"Journalism, like politics, is local." This was Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo’s rationale for her government’s much criticized arrests and closures of opposition newspapers.

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2010

Azerbaijan Accession to NATO Long-Term Project

By Alexandros Petersen

News.Az interviews Alexandros Petersen, senior fellow at the Eurasia Centre at US think-tank the Atlantic Council. Do you view Azerbaijan as a NATO member in the nearest perspective? In the short-term, Azerbaijan will not be a NATO member for two reasons: the Alliance is wary of extending full membership to the South Caucasus countries due […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 21, 2010

800-pound gorillas and other critters

By Harlan Ullman

Despite ubiquitous references to 800-pound gorillas inhabiting imaginary rooms metaphorically constructed around highlighting or hiding critical issues, few people have had that pleasure in practice. Yet, our patois has accepted and accommodated this interesting turn of phrase to describe a decisive or compelling fact or reality that dominates a particular issue. To turn to the […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2010

Global Commitments: Less is More

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

America’s global commitments, from Japan to Germany, from NATO to Afghanistan, from EUCOM to AFRICOM, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Persian Gulf, from USPACOM in Honolulu to CENTCOM in Tampa, Fla., all are being reassessed — at home and abroad. Can a superpower whose infrastructure is rapidly decaying to Third-World standards in many […]

New Atlanticist

Jul 20, 2010

Federalism for Afghanistan: Success Won’t Be Found in Kabul

By Derek Reveron

Even though we are about two months away from “surge force levels” in Afghanistan and five months away from the planned strategy review, a number of commentators have used the Stanley McChrystal – David Petraeus transition as an opportunity to reconsider the mission’s success. Unfortunately, military operations like those in Afghanistan defy the use of […]

Congressional Relations

Jul 20, 2010

Help Our Friends Fight with Us: Ratify the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties with the UK and Australia

By Damon Wilson and Jonathan Ruemelin

President Obama will host British Prime Minister David Cameron for the first time at the White House on Tuesday as both sides try to reassure the other that the ‘special relationship’ is indeed special. There is no better way to calm the waters in the special relationship than by decisive Senate action to approve the […]

United Kingdom

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