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.

Jones: NATO Must be Lean, Agile, and Flexible

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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Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2010

Jones: NATO Must be Lean, Agile, and Flexible

By James Joyner

In a provocative closed door session yesterday, National Security Advisor Jim Jones proclaimed that “NATO must be prepared to address, deny, and deter the full spectrum of threats, whether emanating from within Europe, at NATO’s boundaries, or far beyond NATO’s borders.”

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2010

NATO’s New Strategic Concept Must Make Alliance Relevant

By Harlan Ullman

From its creation in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – NATO in English and OTAN in French, nicely reflecting long-standing and often-competing views within the alliance – has faced one perilous crossroads or another.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 24, 2010

U.S. and EU Must Prioritize Energy Geopolitics

By Alexandros Petersen

What little-known international issue is key to our relationship with Afghanistan, Iraq, China, Russia, Turkey, the countries of Central Asia and our European allies? Eurasia’s energy geopolitics cut across more U.S. foreign and energy policy priorities than any other topic of discussion in Washington.

Energy & Environment European Union

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2010

Clinton: NATO Reform Needed

By James Joyner

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an impassioned plea for NATO institutional reform, an issue she dubbed “critical” for the survival of the Alliance.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2010

Clinton: EU No Threat to NATO

By James Joyner

In her Atlantic Council speech on the future of NATO, Hillary Clinton declared unequivocally that the Alliance should work closely with the European Union on security issues, a welcome evolution in America’s foreign policy.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 23, 2010

Clinton: Cyber Security and Energy Security as NATO Priorities

By James Joyner

During her NATO strategic concept speech, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton argued that “threats to our networks and infrastructure such as cyber attacks and energy disruptions” should be considered an Article 5 action, in which an attack on one is an attack on all.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2010

Clinton on Russia and NATO

By James Joyner

Hillary Clinton addressed the Atlantic Council this evening on “The Future of NATO” as a kickoff to a conference on a new strategic concept for the sixty-year-old Alliance. She worked very hard to square the circle on NATO-Russia relations, both advocating increased cooperation and leaving the door open for further contentious expansion.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2010

Deep Transatlantic Tensions Spotlighted by Obama Effect

By Kurt Volker

President Barack Obama took office in late January 2009, and there can be little doubt that he remains highly popular in Europe a year on. But it is also hard to escape the conclusion that despite the best of intentions on both sides of the Atlantic, there is dissatisfaction with the state of transatlantic relations.

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2010

India and Pakistan: Give Dialogue a Chance

By Sherry Rehman

The resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan is always weighed down by anxiety about outcomes. After the July 26 blasts in Mumbai, New Delhi cut off the composite dialogue process with Islamabad. The foreign secretaries of both countries are now scheduled to meet on Wednesday, February 24th to begin talks again.

New Atlanticist

Feb 20, 2010

Alexander Haig, Former SACEUR and Atlantic Council Director, Dead at 85

By The Editors

General Alexander Haig, a long-time friend of the Atlantic Council who served as Supreme Allied Commander from 1974-1979 and as Secretary of State from 1981-1982, has died. He was 85.

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