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.

Azerbaijan – Turkey High Stakes Gas Deal

New Atlanticist
Sep 4, 2025

Dispatches from Damascus: The state of Syria’s postwar transition nine months after Assad’s fall

On a recent trip to the Syrian capital, Atlantic Council experts took note of how far the country has come since the Assad regime’s fall and what still needs to happen to secure peace and prosperity.

New Atlanticist
Aug 29, 2025

Twenty questions (and expert answers) about the negotiations to end Russia’s war in Ukraine

By
Atlantic Council experts

August saw a flurry of diplomatic activity to end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As September nears, Atlantic Council experts share their insights on what to expect next.

Conflict
Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding

New Atlanticist
Aug 28, 2025

Germany wants to double its defense spending. Where should the money go?

By
Atlantic Council experts

After decades of Berlin underinvesting in its defense, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has plans to transform the Bundeswehr into Europe’s strongest military.

Defense Policy
Europe & Eurasia

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New Atlanticist

May 27, 2010

Azerbaijan – Turkey High Stakes Gas Deal

By Boyko Nitzov and Galib Abbaszade

Ever since the beginnings of the modern petroleum industry in Azerbaijan in the mid-19th century, the country has, despite being a major oil exporter, also been a net gas importer. It was only recently that production from Phase I of the Shah Deniz gas-condensate field picked up, along with output of associated gas at the […]

New Atlanticist

May 27, 2010

George Magnus Interview: Can the EU Remain Cohesive?

By Jason Harmala

In his latest New Atlanticist Podcast, Atlantic Council senior fellow Sarwar Kashmeri speaks with George Magnus, Senior Economic Advisor at UBS Investment Bank and author of the book The Age of Aging, on the cohesiveness of the European Union and the Eurozone’s outlook following the recent Greek and monetary crises.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2010

Euro Crisis: Light at the End of the Tunnel?

By James Joyner

The Eurozone remains in real trouble despite recent efforts to strengthen the currency and allay the fears of investors. Public sentiment in the North, especially Germany, is souring on the project. But key governments are now starting to address their own budget crises, finally giving some reason for optimism. CSM correspondent Isabelle de Pommereau reports […]

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2010

National Security Strategy Preview

By Derek Reveron

Rumors have President Obama’s National Security Strategy, which is about a year overdue, finally being released tomorrow. After 16 months in office, the president has given many hints, most notably his Nobel Peace Prize address that emphasized international cooperation. In Oslo, he said: “America cannot insist that others follow the rules of the road if […]

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2010

NATO Needs A Slogan

By Harlan Ullman

Last week, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, came to Washington to testify before Congress and to make several public appearances discussing important issues such as Afghanistan and the future of the sixty-one year old military alliance. An avid user of Facebook and Twitter, during one of his presentations, Admiral Stavridis […]

New Atlanticist

May 25, 2010

Pakistan’s Bloody Alphabet Soup

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

The Pakistani army showed no hesitation about pursuing and killing Taliban insurgents everywhere except in North Waziristan, one of the seven tribal areas where different terrorist groups have long enjoyed a privileged sanctuary. When Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was in Washington six weeks ago, he briefed his American interlocutors on the army’s […]

New Atlanticist

May 25, 2010

Onward to Kandahar

By Don Snow

The United States and its ISAF allies are inching closer to the next big battleground in Afghanistan–the assault on Kandahar City. Kandahar, of course, is both the hometown of Afghan President and sometimes U.S. buddy Hamid Karzai and the main urban redoubt of the Taliban. This juxtaposition in itself creates the parameters for the mission […]

New Atlanticist

May 25, 2010

An Olympic Opportunity

By Kurt Volker

With summer arriving, it might seem early to be thinking through the politics of the 2014 Winter Olympics. But the next Winter Games are to be held in Sochi, Russia, just a few miles from Abkhazia, a territory Russia broke off from Georgia by military force in 2008. Simply put, this will be tricky. Preparations […]

New Atlanticist

May 24, 2010

Euro Fall Spells Trouble for the Balkan EU Perspective

By Borut Grgic

The Euro crisis is far from over despite – or perhaps because of – the decision by the ECB to set-up a 750 billion euro emergency fund to protect the euro-zone countries from going bankrupt. The economic outlook is grim, which is likely to have some profound political consequences, not least on EU’s enlargement policy.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 21, 2010

Sneak Preview of the New World Not-Quite Order

By Robert Manning

Don’t look now, but a surge of pro-active diplomacy by Brazil and Turkey toward Iran may offer a glimpse of evolving new patterns in international affairs. This is the world of the G-20, where rising middle powers (and larger ones like China and India) will decide whether the period ahead is one more of New […]

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