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 Central Asia, Caucasus Funding Effective?

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.

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New Central Asia, Caucasus Funding Effective?

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 Central Asia, Caucasus Funding Effective?

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

May 13, 2009

New Central Asia, Caucasus Funding Effective?

By Peter Cassata

The State Department’s proposed budget for the fiscal year starting in October 2009 includes significant increases in economic aid for Central Asian countries as well as a net reduction in the combined amount given to Azerbaijan and Armenia.  Questions about the aid’s effectiveness linger.

New Atlanticist

May 13, 2009

In Pakistan, Great Expectations … As Yet Unfulfilled

By Shuja Nawaz

Last week’s tripartite summit in Washington, D.C. during which President Barack Obama hosted President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan was a lot like a Chinese meal.

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2009

NATO Interests vs. National Interests

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

In his address yesterday to the Atlantic Council, NATO Supreme Allied Commander outlined a wish list of reforms he hopes the Alliance will take in the years to come to ensure the institution’s continued relevance in the 21st century.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 12, 2009

Russia’s Big Fuss Over Little NATO Exercises

By David Smith

The first of two successive NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) exercises began yesterday at the Vaziani Georgian Armed Forces Base, 30 kilometers east of Tbilisi.  The objective of Exercises Longbow and Lancer is to improve the abilities of the 14 participating nations to respond cooperatively to crises.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Craddock: NATO Political Leadership AWOL

By James Joyner

Supreme Allied Commander John Bantz Craddock told the Atlantic Council that “political leadership in NATO is AWOL” and that fixing the “imbalance” between an enormous strategic ambition and modest political will is vital for success in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Afghanistan Commander Replaced

By James Joyner

The United States is making a shocking shake-up in the leadership of the Afghanistan mission, replacing General David McKiernan with Lt. General Stanley McChrystal, according to various reports.  McKiernan has been in his post less than a year.

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Pakistan: Too Big To Fail

By Jonathan Paris

Hardly a day goes by without reports highlighting Pakistan’s mounting instability or the growing strength of the Taliban inside its troubled borders. From the media and high-profile observers alike, doomsday scenarios abound. U.S. army general David Petraeus has called the Taliban an “existential threat” to the Pakistani state. His adviser on counterinsurgency in Iraq, David […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Moving Forward on Climate Change Policy

By Rachel Fleishman

It used to be that nothing in life was certain except death and taxes. Then came climate change. The news on the climate has gone from bad to alarmingly urgent. The atmosphere is warming faster than previously thought. The obvious culprit is economic development – our particular path to prosperity has been paved with carbon.

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2009

Europe Betrays Its Mission in Prague

By Borut Grgic

The much-anticipated Prague Summit between the European Union and our eastern partners was a flop. The eastern partnership declaration published last Thursday is not worth the paper it was printed on.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2009

Azerbaijan the Energy Partner Europe Needs Most

By Borut Grgic

Yesterday’s meeting in Prague on the ‘Southern Corridor’ – the pipelines that will bring gas and oil to Europe – produced a decent result, though still missing are agreements on a transit regime with Turkey and on the volumes to be sold on the European market. The key lies in Azerbaijan.

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