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
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.

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

New Atlanticist

Mar 24, 2009

China: We Need New World Currency

By James Joyner

Zhou Xiochuan, head of China’s central bank, published a paper yesterday urging the creation of an international reserve currency independent of the dollar and under the control of the International Monetary Fund.

China

New Atlanticist

Mar 24, 2009

Obama’s Iran Endgame: More Than Meets the Eye

By Bernard Finel

There has been a lot of discussion over the last several days about Iran, mostly prompted by President Obama’s outreach to the Iranian public on the Iranian New Year.

Iran

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Atlantic Update: G20 Consensus Remains Elusive

By Valerie Nichols

Bad news from the IMF arrived last week as the G20 emergency summit creeps closer and closer. The organization recently released some “depressing” figures. In what the BBC called its “gloomiest forecast yet,” the Fund predicted a world economy contraction of 0.5% to 1.0% in 2009. Only two months ago, the prediction had been of […]

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Has NATO Lost Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

In an interviewed aired on last night’s installment of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” President Obama continued to define victory down in Afghanistan, stating that, “Making sure Al-Qaeda cannot attack the US homeland and US interests and our allies. That’s the number one priority.”

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Europeanization of America? Or Global Convergence?

By Daniel Larison

All this clamoring about the Europeanization of America has not made much sense to me. After all, what can it mean to say, “In short, the more liberal your views, the more Belgian your brain”?

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Counterinsurgency Trap: Future of the US Military

By Michael Cohen

Steven Metz, who teaches at the Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute, reports that he was attending a recent DoD symposium and that “everyone nodded when a speaker said that the threats of the future will be dispersed, non-state entities, but few seemed to understand that this obviates the very essence of American strategy and […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Obama Reaches Out to Chirac – Another Snub?

By James Joyner

Fresh off the heels of snubbing Gordon Brown by not holding a joint press conference with him and giving him a gift that could have been purchased at Wal-Mart, Barack Obama has annoyed Nicolas Sarkozy by sending a mash note to former French president Jacques Chirac asserting that, “I am certain that we will be […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 23, 2009

Naval Transformation: Adding Ploughshares

By Derek Reveron

Much attention has been given to the ways militaries are changing focuses on the ground forces, which conduct peacekeeping, stability operations, and counterinsurgency. After all, NATO countries have more than 200,000 soldiers and marines deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. These ground forces have learned the hard lessons of stability operations and are re-equipping with new […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2009

Macedonia Elections Last Chance for Slim EU Hopes

By James Joyner

Citizens of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are going to the polls today, ostensibly to choose a new president and several regional officials but mostly to demostrate to the European Union that they can hold elections in a manner befitting a civilized society.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2009

Countries with Best Unemployment Benefits

By James Joyner

FP’s Annie Lowrey notes that, “As many as 50 million people could be out of work by the end of 2009. But the unemployed in some countries definitely have it better than others.”

Economy & Business European Union

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