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
Jul 29, 2025

The Russia pressure menu: Options to convince Putin to negotiate on Ukraine

As the US president cuts his deadline for Russia to ten days, there are several options for him to increase pressure on Moscow to pursue peace.

New Atlanticist
Jul 24, 2025

Dispatch from Manila: A lesson in calling out Chinese maritime aggression

By
Markus Garlauskas, Philip W. Yu

As the Philippines has focused more on Chinese threats to itself, Manila also seems increasingly inclined to see its own security as connected to that of the broader region.

China
Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist
Jul 1, 2025

The US must enforce sanctions to prevent Iran from rebuilding its nuclear program

By
Kimberly Donovan

To ensure that Tehran cannot get its hands on the financial resources it would need to rebuild its nuclear program, Iran sanctions enforcement should start with China.

Economic Sanctions
Iran

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New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2009

Whither the Social Democrats?

By Nicholas Siegel

As Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany’s current Foreign Minister and Hail Mary Social Democratic candidate for Chancellor in the September elections, began to speak at his inaugural campaign rally this Sunday in Berlin, Europe’s socialists held their collective breath.

Germany

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2009

Negotiating with Iran without Preconditions

By James Joyner

Atlantic senior editor Andrew Sullivan has a short post up titled “No Recognition Of Ahmadinejad” in which he asserts, “This is the first and absolute requirement of all Western governments. The disgusting visuals of Medvedev and Ahmadinejad yesterday must not be repeated.”

New Atlanticist

Jun 17, 2009

Georgia after UNOMIG and EUMM

By David Smith

Russia on Monday kiboshed the United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG). Throughout the day, UN Security Council members failed to agree upon a two week extension that would have provided time for further negotiations.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2009

Iran Elections: American and European Responses Differ

By James Joyner

The post-election drama in Iran continues, with the Guardian Council announcement that it would recount ballots from disputed boxes in the wake of mass demonstrations that have left at least seven people dead. The Obama administration has remained quite cautious, while European leaders have been more direct in their condemnations.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2009

EU Must Intervene in Nagorno-Karabakh

By Borut Grgic

It is now 17 years since Armenia and Azerbaijan began a full-scale war over Nagorno-Karabakh, a south-western province of Azerbaijan. And it is now 15 years since a ceasefire was agreed, with Armenian forces in control of the territory. But it is a ceasefire that it is poorly observed. There are regular shoot-outs across the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 16, 2009

UN and OSCE Monitors Leaving Georgia

By James Joyner

Monitors from the UN and the OSCE are leaving Georgia after Russia vetoed an extension of both mandates. This leaves only a tiny EU force and all but formally ends the West’s pretense that South Ossetia and Abkhazia will be reunited with Georgia, much less that Europe will do anything to make that happen.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2009

Iran’s Elections: What Now?

By James Joyner

The debate over the legitimacy of Iran’s elections are, in the end, a sideshow. First, because the office of president is essentially powerless. While President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is the most visible face of the government, he’s not the one making key decisions on nuclear weapons, regional relations, or human rights.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2009

Iran’s Elections: What We Know (And What We Don’t)

By James Joyner

Twitter, the blogosphere and the print media (but not, for a variety of reasons, the 24 hour cable news stations) have been abuzz with the Iranian election results, including allegations of fraud and the resulting mass demonstrations and police crackdown. We have more questions than answers at the moment.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Jun 15, 2009

A Constructivist Take on the Strait

By Max Tsung-chi Yu

In the 2007 article “Why We Fight over Foreign Policy” in the Hoover Institution journal Policy Review, Henry Nau writes: “Why do we disagree so stridently about foreign policy? An easy answer is because leaders lie about events aboard.”

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2009

The Americanization of Afghanistan Continues

By James Joyner

NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and senior American officials have sought for months to allay European fears about an “Americanization” of the mission in Afghanistan. Today, however, it became all but a fait accompli.

Afghanistan NATO

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