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.

Obama Announces Afghan Surge and Exit Strategy

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

New Atlanticist

Dec 2, 2009

Obama Announces Afghan Surge and Exit Strategy

By James Joyner

After months of careful consideration, President Obama announced his newest Afghanistan policy last night. He will send an additional 30,000 troops in rapid fashion — giving General McChrystal most of what he asked for — but also announced an exit timetable that makes a successful counterinsurgency impossible. Previewing the speech, Atlantic Council vice president and […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Singh’s U.S. Visit: Were Expectations Met?

By Shikha Bhatnagar

For the week leading up to the Prime Minister of India’s arrival to Washington, DC, the first State Visit for the Obama Administration, the anticipation in this city was noticeable, a temporary relief from the gloomy winter in an even gloomier economy. Policymakers and pundits in the city and region described the importance of this […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Prime Minister Singh’s Objectives

By Frank Wisner

Although Prime Minister Singh had met President Obama earlier, they did not have the time together needed to take stock of each other and create the basis for a common understanding of the issues which preoccupy our two nations. The Indian Prime Minister attaches special importance to the relationship with the United States, and he […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

The Great Hype Forward

By Manvendra Singhwas

Any Indian state visit that runs into an important anniversary is always a difficult act to live up to. And that precisely was the context of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recently concluded Washington trip. The first Indian head of government interaction with the Obama dispensation was held in the days before the first anniversary of […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

A “Defining Partnership” Renewed

By Rani Mullen

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official visit to Washington D.C. was hailed as a success by both sides. Though the visit did not culminate in the United States operationalizing the 2005 civilian nuclear deal, the meetings between the two heads of state went a great way towards reaffirming that the United States values this […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Where is the Indispensability?

By Tariq Fatemi

The Obama White House’s first state guest was the Indian Prime Minister, which was not surprising given that India is the big success story of the post-Cold war era that appears destined for an increasingly important global role.

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Pakistan and India: Common Threat Needs Common Defense

By Pervez Hoodbhoy

Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says Pakistan is “compiling hard evidence of India’s involvement” in terrorist attacks on Pakistan’s public and its armed forces. If he and the Interior Minister are correct, then we must conclude that the Indians are psychotics possessed with a death wish or, perhaps, plain stupid. While India’s assistance for […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 1, 2009

Obama Faces Ghost of LBJ in Tonight’s Speech

By Don Snow

President Obama has apparently reached his decision on Afghanistan, which he will explain to the public on Tuesday night. If early leaks intended to get us more used to–and presumably comfortable with–the content are correct, he is going to give General McChrystal most of what he wants, although with some time constraints (the “off ramps”) […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2009

Obama’s Afghanistan Speech: What to Look For

By James Joyner

President Obama’s speech tomorrow night, in which he finally announces his Afghan strategy and responds to General McChrystal’s September request for more troops, will be closely watched by the American public, our NATO Allies, foreign leaders, and the people of Afghanistan and the region.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2009

Swiss Minaret Ban Latest Salvo in Religious War

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Ask Google a question — one of the hundreds of millions it receives every day from all over the world — and in 2.8 seconds it has scanned some 30 billion Web pages and a couple of billion images, and produced scores of possible answers. Pity the cub reporter who has yet to develop what […]

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