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.

Jones a Different Kind of National Security Advisor

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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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

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2009

Where Words Fail, Music Speaks

By James Joyner

I’ve been blogging for over six years now but am still frequently surprised at what captures the attention of the blogosphere and what doesn’t. Last Wednesday evening, the Atlantic Council presented Distinguished Leadership Awards to former heads of government President George H.W. Bush and Chancellor Helmut Kohl, General David Petraeus, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano, and […]

New Atlanticist

May 4, 2009

Romanian Offer Causes Moldovan Visa Frenzy

By Valerie Nichols

Last month’s political unrest and violent protests in Moldova have led to an interesting, and controversial, proposition from Romania: the EU nation is offering passports to up to one million Moldovans to prevent the implementation of “a new Iron Curtain” on the border of their historically close neighbor.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

May 4, 2009

Energy Supply Diversity: Be Careful What You Wish For

By Nikolas Gvosdev

One of the standard phrases in the repertoire of U.S. diplomats for more than the last decade have been that the United States does not recognize any sort of “spheres of influence” around the world—and vigorously upholds the right of any sovereign state to choose its foreign policy orientation.

Energy & Environment

New Atlanticist

May 3, 2009

Israel and the Iranian Nuclear Threat

By Don Snow

I attended a panel discussion Friday in which the topic of Iran’s nuclear program came up. The two principal commentators on the subject were the dean emeritus of the Center for Naval Warfare Studies (Dr. Robert S. Wood) and a retired U.S. Navy admiral, William Pendley, who has had direct experience by virtue of being […]

Iran Israel

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