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

Jan 15, 2010

Ukraine’s Anti-Orange Election

By Alexander Motyl

As Ukrainians go to the polls on Sunday to elect a new president, Western observers should interpret the outcome in light of how the U.S. premier political scientist distinguished between good and bad government.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2010

Ukraine Election Backgrounder

By Adrian Karatnycky

Ukraine votes in the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, January 17th.

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Jan 15, 2010

General Stéphane Abrial on Allied Command Transformation

By Peter Cassata

Sarwar Kashmeri, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s International Security Program, interviewed General Stéphane Abrial, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, for the New Atlanticist Podcast Series.

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2010

Afghanistan Polling Difficult But Not Impossible

By James Joyner

A recent ABC-BBC-ARD survey of Afghanistan has both given hopes to those who support NATO’s mission in Afghanistan and created a backlash among doubters. ABC News polling director Gary Langer begins his summary of the findings with the good news: Hopes for a brighter future have soared in Afghanistan, bolstered by a broad rally in […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2010

Connecting the Dots is Not the Prolem

By Harlan Ullman

In the wake of the attempted Christmas bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight over Detroit, once again criticism has focused on failure to connect the poor, overworked dots. Yet, however understandable this reaction, Rome is burning in a metaphoric sense and we are attacking dots. We must wake up. Consider several stunning — indeed staggering […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2010

The Future of Iran’s Green Movement

By Nazenin Ansari and Jonathan Paris

The deadline for Iran to accept a U.N.-brokered deal on its controversial nuclear program expired on December 31, proving yet again that the policy of modifying the behavior of the Islamic Republic is not working. While Washington frets over what the Obama Administration should do next, legitimate power is tilting away from the central government […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2010

South Asia in 2010: A Make or Break Year for Afghanistan

By Jawad Joya

2010 will most likely define the character of the next decade for U.S. foreign policy in Central and South Asia. For Afghanistan and Pakistan, the year will foreshadow what awaits them in the new decade – fatal chaos, expensive stability (with some hope) or a blend of both.

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2010

The Coming Pentagon Boost: Obama Strong on War Funding

By Damon Wilson

For all the talk around town of increasing pressure on defense spending in a time of austerity, high unemployment and eye-popping deficits, the Pentagon budget is poised to reach the historic level of $700 billion – a 4.8 % increase over Obama’s FY2010 request (and a 125% increase since 2001).

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2010

Derivatives Market 20 Times Size of American Economy

By James Joyner

The nation’s chief commodities regulator told the Atlantic Council that, "A healthy financial future requires that we bring comprehensive reform to the over-the-counter derivatives markets. It is critically important that we bring transparency to this market and address the significant information advantage enjoyed by Wall Street." Gary Gensler, chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2010

America’s Billion Dollar Intelligence Boondoggle

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The Jordanian “triple” agent bomber whose suicide killed seven CIA agents in Afghanistan December 30 was a physician and self-avowed jihadist whose virulent anti-Americanism was well-known in the capital city of Amman. Homam Khalil Abu Mallal al-Balawi, 33, “moderated” a Yemen-based, radical Islamic forum (Hisbah.net) on which he said his “ultimate dream in life is […]

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