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.

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New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2009

How Serious is the North Korean Threat?

By Don Snow

As long anticipated, North Korea test fired a Taepodong rocket hours ago, which President Obama termed “a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security.” Is that really so? Don Snow published the following analysis yesterday afternoon, viewing the test prospectively.

Korea Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2009

Is NATO Still Relevant?

By James Joyner

PJTV’s Bill Whittle hosts a thoughtful discussion of “NATO at 60” and whether the United States still needs the Alliance.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2009

Obama: Transatlantic Relations at ‘Crossroads’

By James Joyner

In a speech at Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg, President Obama said America’s relationship with Europe was “at a crossroads” and proclaimed, “We must renew our institutions, our alliances.”

New Atlanticist

Apr 3, 2009

G20 Protests in Multimedia

By Valerie Nichols

The G20 summit was marked by protests of all shapes and sizes, from marches to effigies to giant games of Monopoly in the streets. Here is a roundup of some of these activities.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2009

The Case For NATO

By James Joyner

As the NATO heads of government prepare to converge on Kehl and Strasbourgh for the Alliance’s 60th anniversary Summit, they’re facing extreme skepticism from some heavy hitters in the security policy community.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2009

European Energy Security: The Future of Nabucco

By Alexandros Petersen

It was major news at last week’s summit of EU leaders that German Chancellor Angela Merkel turned about on her previous opposition to EU funding for the Nabucco pipeline to bring Caspian and possibly Middle Eastern natural gas to Europe.

Energy & Environment European Union

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2009

G20 Leaders Leave Hard Problems Unsolved

By Alexei Monsarrat

As widely anticipated, not much was achieved at the G20 Summit. The announcement of $850 billion dollars for the international financial institutions and $250 billion in trade finance is a welcome sign that world leaders are paying attention to the needs of poor countries. But the lack of any real consensus on a true global […]

New Atlanticist

Apr 2, 2009

5 Questions for Pierre Vimont

By James Joyner

Pierre Vimont is the French ambassador to the United States. He has served in his country’s foreign service for more than three decades. I had the opportunity to get his thoughts on some key issues of interest to the Atlantic Council community.

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2009

Medvedev And The Need To De-Personalize Foreign Policy

By Daniel Larison

Ross Douthat mentions this profile of Russian President Medvedev as an interesting source of background, and I agree that it is a useful primer on Medvedev if you are not familiar with his career prior to his elevation by Putin and election, but I am instinctively wary of efforts to interpret the actions of foreign […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2009

Barack Obama’s Excellent Adventure

By David Smith

This is a marathon foreign policy week for US President Barack Obama. The next six days will leave a bold imprint on how American foreign policy is perceived in the world, indeed, on what Obama can achieve during his term.

United States and Canada

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