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

May 9, 2009

Australia Prepares for U.S. Decline

By James Joyner

The release a week ago of an Australian defense plan calling for a substantial upgrade in forces based on the assumption that the United States will be reducing its commitments to the Asia-Pacific region has slowly gotten the attention of the foreign policy commentariat.

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2009

Ireland Bans Soccer for Chad Combat Troops

By James Joyner

Ireland’s defense minister has ordered that soldiers assigned to combat duty in Chad refrain from playing contact sports, including soccer and volleyball, lest they injure themselves on the hard dirt. Sadly, this is not a satire from The Onion.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 9, 2009

US-China Naval Coordination Urgently Needed

By Damien Tomkins

An encounter between the USNS Victorious and Chinese trawlers in the Yellow Sea marks the fifth such incident within two months, China Post reports. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman asserted that “a couple of Chinese fishing vessels maneuvered close to the Victorious in what was an unsafe manner.” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ma Zhaoxu countered, “The […]

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2009

Medvedev Praises Soviet Role in WWII

By James Joyner

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is working to make belittling the Soviet Union’s contribution to the Allied victory in World War II a crime. He also called the Soviet Union “our country,” a reference sure to raise eyebrows in the West.

Russia

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2009

Jones a Different Kind of National Security Advisor

By James Joyner

General Jim Jones is forging a new path as National Security Advisor and drawing some heat for it. President Obama, however, does not appear to be among those complaining.

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2009

Estonia and Latvia’s New Balancing Act

By Ahmed Bhadelia

Despite fierce resistance from Moscow, NATO began a month long string of military exercises in Georgia yesterday. These types of training exercises have been often been criticized by Russian leaders as “provocation”. On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev accused NATO of “muscle-flexing” and called the decision to continue with the drills “wrong and dangerous.” Past […]

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2009

Pakistan Drops Peace Agreement, Future Hopes of Negotiations in Peril?

By Ahmed Bhadelia

Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are in Washington today to meet with President Obama about working together to combat militants in both countries. Surely headlining the meeting will be the recent news that the Pakistan government has abandoned its peace deal with the Taliban over control of the Swat Valley […]

Pakistan

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2009

Russia’s Privileged Sphere of Influence

By David Smith

Late last week, about 1,800 additional Russian troops poured into the already heavily occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Akhalgori District.

Russia The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2009

Business the Most Successful Change Agent in Society

By James Joyner

Richard Edelman, a member of the Executive Committee of the Atlantic Council Board of Directors, praises the acceptance speech given by Sam Palmisano in accepting the Distinguished Business Leadership Award. He argues, however, that Palmisano missed “an opportunity to make a broader statement about the evolving relationship between business and government.”

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2009

Georgia Army Mutiny: Russia-Backed Coup Attempt?

By James Joyner

Georgia has put down a rebellion at an army barracks near Tblisi, which President Mikheil Saakashvili’s government is claiming was “coordinated with Russia and aimed at minimum thwarting NATO military exercises.” Moscow says this allegation is “mad.”

NATO Security & Defense

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