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

Apr 19, 2010

Maritime Disputes and International Law

By Derek Reveron

When looking at the earth from space, one fact is obvious: Water is the dominant feature. In fact, about 70 percent of the planet is covered by water and a significant portion of the earth is covered by frozen water in the Arctic and Antarctica. Water is so prevalent that the astronomer and writer Carl […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 19, 2010

The New START Treaty

By David Smith

The new START Treaty, signed April 8 in Prague castle, would reduce strategic nuclear warheads by 30 percent compared with the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty and delivery vehicles by 50 percent compared with the 1991 START I Treaty.

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2010

Can the West Trust Viktor Yanukovych?

By Damon Wilson

U.S. President Barack Obama got his first look this week at Ukraine’s new president, Viktor Yanukovych. As the Moscow-backed candidate who “won” the 2004 presidential election only to be defeated in the Orange Revolution, Yanukovych has some work to do on his image in the West, where many still see him as a tool of […]

NATO Nuclear Nonproliferation

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2010

Georgia 2010 as Cyprus 1974

By Nikolas Gvosdev

Speaking at the Atlantic Council yesterday, President Mikheil Saakashvili outlined his vision for Georgia’s future. Listening to it, I was struck by similarities to the approach that Cyprus took after the 1974 invasion and occupation of the northern third of the island and Saakashvili’s handling of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after the 2008 Russian invasion.

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2010

Nuclear Energy: Think Small

By Dave Schuler

Just for moment let’s consider, in quick bullet fashion, some of the energy problems we face: We continue to need increasing amounts of energy. Increased energy means increased prosperity. Simple as that. Much of our energy is currently produced by burning fossil fuels, e.g. coal, oil, or natural gas. We’re importing an increasing proportion of […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2010

Nigeria: Internal Stability and International Order

By Martin Kimani

“Clean!” was Nigerian Acting President Goodluck Jonathan’s emphatic response when asked for a promise about the upcoming 2011 elections. At the formal launch of the Atlantic Council’s Ansari Africa Center, Dr. Jonathan spoke to a standing room only crowd about his vision for good governance and accountability, youth and hope, peace and security. The speech […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2010

Africa: Partner or Problem?

By Nikolas Gvosdev

Had there been more time, I would have be interested in pursuing some of the tantalizing statements about Nigeria’s foreign policy that Acting President Goodluck Jonathan made in his remarks launching the Atlantic Council’s Michael S. Ansari Africa Center yesterday.

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2010

Viktor Yanukovych Goes to Washington

By Adrian Karatnycky

Reading the Kyiv Post and many of Ukraine’s other newsweeklies, one gets the impression that a measure of hysteria has seized normally sober-minded and serious analysts. Respected analysts speak in dire terms of a wholesale sellout of Ukraine to Russia and of the consolidation of dictatorship.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2010

Nuclear Spring?

By Harlan Ullman

This has been another extraordinary week for U.S. President Barack Obama.

New Atlanticist

Apr 13, 2010

Poland: Hope From Tragedy?

By James Joyner

They say every cloud has a silver lining. The tragic plane crash that took the lives of so many of Poland’s finest over the weekend may be a case in point, providing an opportunity to heal wounds old and new. President Obama has announced that he will attend the funeral. The White House said today […]

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