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.

The Americanization of Afghanistan Continues

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 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

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2009

Europe’s Lunatic Fringe in Charge?

By James Joyner

The Economist says Sunday was “a worrying night for those who believe in a Europe of open borders” noting that, “In many countries, large protest votes went to populist, fringe and hard-right politicians vowing to close borders, repatriate immigrants or even dismantle the European Union in its current form.”

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2009

Africa: Next Steps

By Lynn Roche

In the weeks before President Obama’s July trip to Ghana lies an extraordinary opportunity to set the tone for the U.S. approach to Africa in this administration. Doing so can take advantage of the enormous amount of experience, expertise and plain-old goodwill that exists in an area that doesn’t often make the front page.

New Atlanticist

Jun 11, 2009

Why Obama Can’t Reset Relations with Putin’s Russia

By Alexander Motyl

U.S. President Barack Obama wants to “reset” America’s relations with Russia, but the nature of the Russian regime won’t permit much change. Obama can easily reject the style and correct the mistakes of his predecessor, George W. Bush, but doing so will not alter the fact that Putin’s Russia must engage in imperialist rhetoric and […]

Russia United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2009

Iran’s Election and U.S. Foreign Policy

By Bernard Finel

The Administration of George W. Bush was close to an unmitigated disaster for the image of the United States abroad. His ill-informed, often offensive, and counter-productive public statements and policy preferences set back American national security dramatically. Trying to undo some of the damage of the Bush years is the reason that President Obama has […]

Iran United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jun 10, 2009

Wars of Necessity and Wars of Choice

By Harlan Ullman

Wars are ultimately about judgment and should be so regarded and defined.

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2009

Progress on East-West Energy Corridor Continues

By Alexandros Petersen

These days it seems like the East-West Energy and Transport Corridor is being undermined from almost every direction. The grand idea of the 1990s – which saw the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipedream became an enormously successful reality – seems to be faltering a decade later.

Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2009

European Parliament Elections in Multimedia

By Deirdre Shannon and Ben Fifield

A number of trends emerged from this weekend’s European Parliament elections: the center-right parties maintained their dominance, voters again used the elections as a mid-term appraisal of their national governments and voter turnout continued its downward trajectory.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2009

Europe Seeks Attention, Obama Wants Help

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

President Obama’s recent trip to the Middle East and Europe offered a clear contrast between the past and present priorities of U.S. foreign policy. Obama’s highly scrutinized and substantive trip to Saudi Arabia and Egypt reflects the fact that the greater Middle East is the strategic center of gravity for current U.S. foreign policy. By […]

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2009

The “Obama Effect” and Lebanon

By Bernard Finel

On March 20, 2003, the United States invaded Iraq. On April 9, Baghdad fell, ending Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical rule. The effect of this victory seemed to transform the globe.

Middle East

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