New Atlanticist

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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.

Afghanistan War All Over But The Shooting

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.

Read More

Afghanistan War All Over But The Shooting

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

Afghanistan War All Over But The Shooting

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

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Content

New Atlanticist

Sep 1, 2009

Afghanistan War All Over But The Shooting

By Judah Grunstein

Does the U.S. have a vital strategic interest in Afghanistan-Pakistan that justifies our continued military presence there? Sadly, the answer is No.

Afghanistan Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Afghanistan: New Strategy or “New Math”?

By Don Snow

It is being reported that the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, is planning what is variously described as a “new strategy” for dealing with the Taliban or as simply a refinement of the current AfPak strategy based in counterinsurgency doctrine.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Turkey is “World’s Largest Energy Hub”

By Alexandros Petersen

According to Turkey’s popular “Zaman” newspaper, the country can now claim the title of “world’s largest energy hub.” While over a decade of government policy has sought to transform Turkey’s energy sector into first a European, then a regional, and now a global energy hub, a rash of recent international agreements, according to “Zaman,” have […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Will Germany Remain Part of the West?

By Hans Kundnani

In a sense, the central question of Germany’s post war identity is of whether it constitutes a part of the West or not. As the historian Heinrich August Winkler tells it, Germany has completed its long westward journey. However, the reality is more complicated considering the increasing shift of the Federal Republic’s foreign policy towards […]

Germany

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Afghanistan’s Opportunity Costs

By Paul Bauman

The Afghan debate in the blogosphere is reaching new heights of late, mainly due to the recent Afghan elections and Admiral Mullen’s comments concerning the deteriorating US position vis-à-vis the Taliban.  One issue that seems to be lost in this discussion is the opportunity cost of US involvement in Afghanistan. 

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Aug 31, 2009

Piracy Season Opens with a Bang

By Derek Reveron

With three months to go in 2009, pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean have already exceeded 2008 levels, when pirates generated at least $30 million in ransoms.  Attacks slowed during June and July, but not because of naval patrols.  Instead, bad weather and good seamanship kept the pirates at bay.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2009

Honor Among Terrorists

By Arnaud de Borchgrave

Heated denials notwithstanding, Scotland’s “compassionate release” of convicted Libyan Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi was part of a three-way oil deal between Britain, Libya and Scotland.

National Security Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2009

US-China Climate Accord a Game-Changer

By Banning Garrett and Jonathan Adams

Did the United States and China recently take a game-changing step on climate change and clean energy? Quite possibly so.

New Atlanticist

Aug 28, 2009

Azerbaijan Key Caspian Energy Player

By Alexandros Petersen

Associate Director of the Eurasia Energy Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Alexandros Petersen, spoke with Trend Capital in an exclusive interview.

New Atlanticist

Aug 27, 2009

Sarkozy and Merkel: Limit Banker Bonuses

By James Joyner

Germany chancellor Angela Merkel is backing French president Nicolas Sarkozy’s plan to curb executive bonuses at next month’s G20 summit.  The EU is finalizing a plan to implement similar rules among its member states.

European Union Germany
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