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.

Obama Outreach Tour Hits Syria and Turkey

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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

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.

Content

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2009

Obama Outreach Tour Hits Syria and Turkey

By James Joyner

President Obama is making good on his campaign pledge to reach out to countries with whom relations were strained during the Bush years. The administration has made a significant overtures to Syria and Turkey today, following yesterday’s outreach to Russia and Iran.

Syria Turkey

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2009

Hillary Clinton Goes to Russia

By James Joyner

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is meeting with Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov in an attempt to make good on Vice President Joe Biden’s pledge to “push the reset button” in the bilateral relationship. The task will, to say the least, not be an easy one.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2009

Wanted: New Afghan Supply Routes

By Peter Cassata

On top of its decision to close the U.S. airbase at Manas, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament voted yesterday to end agreements with eleven other countries that also use the base, including several European states, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea, Reuters reports.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2009

Freedom to Travel

By James Joyner

By one measure, at least, Denmark is the freest country on earth. The Economist: DANES faced the fewest restrictions on travel in 2008: they were able to visit 157 countries or territories without a visa according to an annual report by Henley & Partners, a consultancy. The Irish, Finns and Portuguese were only marginally less […]

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2009

NATO Resumes Russia Ties

By James Joyner

NATO has ended Russia’s “time-out,” presumably thinking it has suffered long enough for invading its neighbor. NATO foreign ministers agreed Thursday to resume high-level formal ties with Russia, suspended last year after Moscow’s military thrust into Georgia.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2009

The Gas Contract or I’ll Shoot!

By Boyko Nitzov

March 4th was apparently one of those days when everyone concerned with gas supply from Russia across Ukraine to the EU could rejoice and put any concerns to rest: the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) raided at gunpoint the headquarters of Ukraine’s oil and gas company, Naftogaz.

Energy & Environment Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

USA Done by 2010: Russian Diplomatic Academy Dean

By James Joyner

A prominent Russian scholar is making a bold prediction: If you’re inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn’t mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Deal or No Deal?: Missile Defense for Iranian Nukes

By Peter Cassata

A letter from Obama offering to shelve the planned U.S. missile defense system in return for Russian cooperation in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons was hand-delivered to Medvedev three weeks ago by U.S. diplomatic officials, the NYT reported. Although fervently objecting to the missile defense shield, Russia’s reception of the letter was lukewarm. Obama […]

Iran Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Poll: Russia Reset and EU Future

By James Joyner

Our most recent poll on efforts to “push the reset button” on relations with Russia shows substantially more optimism among Europeans than Americans.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Power Transitions in U.S. and Iraq

By David Smith

“Congratulations, Mr. President.” With those words from US Chief Justice John Roberts, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, this orderly transfer of power happened at 12 noon on January 20 — no sooner and no later.

Iraq United States and Canada

Share

Issue briefs and reports