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.

Iceland EU Bid Forced by Financial Crisis

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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Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

Markup

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

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2009

Iceland EU Bid Forced by Financial Crisis

By James Joyner

Fiercely independent Iceland is ready to make its bid to join the European Union in the wake of the global financial crisis that has devastated the island nation’s economy more than most. Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir deemed it “probably the most historic vote in the history of our parliament.” The Althingi is the world’s oldest legislative […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2009

Education and Grand Strategy

By Mark Safranski

America’s current educational system, which emphasizes uniformity, conformity, and memorization is stifling the creation of the next generation of strategic thinkers.

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2009

US and European Tax Rates and Compliance

By James Joyner

The United States has among the lowest top income tax rates in the developed world. And also the highest rates of compliance in paying taxes. One suspects these facts are related.

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2009

Obama’s National Security Strategy Unfolding

By Derek Reveron

While the United States had often followed an unofficial grand strategy (e.g., containment during the Cold War), Congress required the president to formalize one since 1986. While President Obama has yet to do so, we have a pretty good idea what his foreign policy vision will be.

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2009

Clinton: U.S. Seeks both Partners and Primacy

By Brendan Boundy

For those hoping for a dramatic unveiling of the Obama administration’s new foreign policy agenda, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s first major address last week was a bit of a disappointment.

New Atlanticist

Jul 16, 2009

An Adapting Al Qaeda?

By Brendan Boundy

Countering Al Qaeda’s ability to launch attacks against Europe and the United States from ungoverned tribal areas is the primary aim of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and aid to Pakistan. However, Al Qaeda’s aim may be shifting.

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2009

Russia May Score Final Coup in Energy Battle

By Alexandros Petersen

The European Union is touting its deal with Turkey on Monday to realize the Nabucco natural gas pipeline project as a major coup in the quest for alternative energy routes that bypass Russia. The project’s major transit country, Turkey, may have been brought on board, but Ankara’s other energy interests in the Caucasus may still […]

Energy & Environment Russia

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2009

Nabucco: Success Far From Assured

By Nikolas Gvosdev

Listening to some of the commentary on the signing of the intergovernmental agreement which lays the foundation for the construction of the Nabucco pipeline reminds me of Raphael Patai’s famous observation about the political culture of the Middle East.

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2009

‘International FEMA’ Needed for Contingency Operations?

By James Joyner

Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, argues that we need an “international FEMA” to coordinate complex contingency operations across the various agencies of the American government and institutionalize lessons learned.

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2009

Three Wishes for Obama

By Harlan Ullman

Back from “resetting” relations with Russia and then conferring with the G8-plus before stopping over in Ghana, U.S. President Barack Obama continues a full court press on resolving concurrently the myriad of crises, dangers and issues facing the nation.

Russia

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