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
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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

Markup

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

Content

New Atlanticist

Dec 9, 2009

Where is the Outrage?

By Harlan Ullman

Sixty-eight years and two days ago, Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor awakened what Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto called a “sleeping giant.” Nearly 60 years later, the attacks that turned civilian airliners into weapons made Sept. 11, 2001, a second day of infamy. Americans were shocked and outraged.

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2009

Chicago As a Terrorist Center

By James Joyner

Citing reports that a Chicago man has been arrested for helping to plan the Mumbia terror attacks, Bernard Finel snarks, “I guess we need a surge in Chicago, too?”

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2009

4.5 Acres of Sovereign and Mobile American Territory

By Sarwar Kashmeri

I am flying aboard a Grumman C2-1 Greyhound, a powerful twin-engine turboprop nicknamed “COD” for Carrier Onboard Delivery. It’s the U.S. Navy’s aerial workhorse — its Jeep so to speak — ferrying passengers, cargo, engines, spare parts and whatever else is needed back and forth from land to the fleet’s aircraft carriers. We’re about 100 […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 8, 2009

Role of the Caucasus in European Energy Security

By Boyko Nitzov

Boyko Nitzov, director of programs at the Council’s Patriciu Eurasia Center, was interviewed by Leyla Tagiyeva of Azerbaijan’s News.Az on energy security in Europe.

Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2009

Climate Change and National Security

By Derek Reveron

Amid the flurry of discussion caused by “climate-gate” and debates about CO2 emission caps, the relationship between climate change and security is likely to be overlooked in Copenhagen. Unlike traditional security issues like nuclear warheads, missile proliferation, or naval modernization, climate change often escapes national security discussions. Ozone depletion, CO2 emissions, and rising sea levels […]

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2009

Turkey Turns East While West Dithers

By Nicholas Siegel

“Will Turkey join the European Union? That’s up to the Europeans. All we see is that when we go to Europe they treat us like we are nothing – whereas in the Middle East they look up to us.” Such were the words of a Turkish diplomat I spoke to in Washington recently.

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2009

Shale Gas Could Transform Energy Geopolitics

By Robert Manning

Lost amidst the doom and gloom over global warming and energy dependence on the Middle East and Russia is the fact that new technologies and drilling techniques are allowing recovery of gas trapped in shale and gradually but inexorably transforming the global energy security equation. For all the hopes of transitioning to renewable energy sources, […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 7, 2009

Mark Mardell Interview: Obama’s Afghanistan Strategy

By James Joyner

Sarwar Kashmeri, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council’s International Security Program, interviewed Mark Mardell, North America editor of the BBC, for the New Atlanticist Podcast Series. Mardell discussed President Obama’s recently announced Afghanistan strategy.

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2009

Afghanistan Deadline: What Happens in July 2011?

By James Joyner

Most of the postmortems of President Obama’s Afghanistan strategy speech focused on the announcement of an 18 month timetable after which a drawdown and handover to local forces would begin. Opposition Republicans took the president at his word and warned about signaling weakness, whereas critics in his own party saw the deadline as a cynical […]

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Dec 4, 2009

Afghanistan Debate Over, Now Time to Execute

By James Cook

Although perhaps delivered with less emotion than some would like from such a gifted orator, President Obama delivered his Afghanistan strategy. We can expect additional strategic and operational details to emerge in the coming weeks but the speech outlined some broad guidelines that military and other planners can use as strategic direction.

Afghanistan

Share

Issue briefs and reports