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

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New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2009

Russia: Change You Can’t Believe In

By Robert Manning

Try this as a thought experiment: imagine a dynamic modern Russia with a robust knowledge economy, diversified industry, and reasonably functioning legal system where starting a business –or adjudicating disputes — is no more difficult than in say, Turkey or Malaysia. Not easy, is it? In fact, in a remarkable article published on Gazeta.ru, a […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 17, 2009

The Two Timetables

By Nikolas Gvosdev

U.S. and Russian strategies in the space “east of Europe” and across the Eurasian plain are operating on two different timetables.

Europe & Eurasia Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2009

Barroso Re-elected, Seen as Mandate for European Project

By James Joyner

José Manuel Barrosso today easily won re-election as European Commission president, surprising observers who as recently as yesterday thought he might fall short of a majority and dealing yet another setback to the center-left.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2009

NATO – Russia Strategic Partnership?

By James Joyner

New NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen has called for “open-minded and unprecedented dialogue” with Russia to create a “true strategic partnership” on issues ranging from Afghanistan to terrorism to nuclear proliferation. While “Russia should realize that NATO is here and that NATO is a framework for our transatlantic relationship,” he argued, “we should also […]

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2009

Good Governance MIA in Developing World and America

By Harlan Ullman

What issue should concern citizens most? That answer is hidden in plain sight. But even important “think tanks” miss it. Exhibit A is the annual Global Security Review convened by London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. Aimed at examining specific challenges and threats facing the international community, the conference chose the Middle East, Afghanistan and […]

New Atlanticist

Sep 16, 2009

Afghanistan: Who Cares More?

By Don Snow

The last posting opened with the question of what was between the United States and attaining its goals in Afghanistan. To pose and frame the question, a “formula” of sorts was put forward to describe the process and barriers to reaching the desired end (Goal Attainment=Successful COIN+Successful State-Building). In the first posting, questions were raised […]

Afghanistan

H.E. Meera Shankar Atlantic Council Photo

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2009

Afghanistan Fight Has Local Support

By James Joyner

India’s new ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, told the Atlantic Council that her government believes it is “imperative that the United States stay the course” in Afghanistan even while conceding that “stability will require a sustained engagement.”

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2009

Losing New Europe, Too?

By James Joyner

Back in 2003, then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld famously noted that while “Old Europe” (particularly France and Germany) was hard to work with, America could count on “New Europe.” Fast forward to 2009 and we may have reversed polarity.

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2009

Al Qaeda 360

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Pity the al Qaeda analyst in the 16-agency, 100,000-strong U.S. intelligence community that spends $50 billion a year, much of it to track al Qaeda operatives the world over.

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 14, 2009

Afghanistan: Barriers to Success

By Don Snow

Recent developments in Afghanistan – discontent over the elections, increased violence, likely US military calls for additional manpower, growing U.S. public disaffection with the effort – have all coalesced to increase the intensity of discussions about what the United States seeks to accomplish in that far distant country

Afghanistan

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