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’s Afghanistan Plan: What’s So New About It?

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

Mar 28, 2009

Obama’s Afghanistan Plan: What’s So New About It?

By James Joyner

President Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan has won the backhanded praise of Hamid Karzai, who termed it “better than we were expecting.” Gordon Brown has lauded the plan as well and called for NATO to do more.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 28, 2009

Economist Has Buyer’s Remorse on Obama

By James Joyner

The editorial board at The Economist (which apparently considers itself a “newspaper” despite coming out weekly in magazine format) praises President Obama for having “already done some commendable things” in the foreign policy arena but charges that, domestically, “His performance has been weaker than those who endorsed his candidacy, including this newspaper, had hoped.”

Economy & Business United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2009

New Afghanistan Plan: Still No Exit Strategy

By James Joyner

President Obama gave a speech this morning outlining his new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, which served as the unveiling of a (slightly) more detailed white paper [PDF].

Afghanistan Pakistan

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2009

Stay Out of the Protectionist Trap

By James Joyner

EU Commissioner for Competition Neelie Kroes, speaking last night at the Atlantic Council, called for “tough love” to be applied to failing institutions and implored governments to avoid taking shortcuts that will cause long term damage to the world economy. She also expressed hope that the United States and Europe will cooperate in solving the […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2009

Russia Ending War in Chechnya?

By James Joyner

Russia appears ready to declare victory and end its struggle in the breakaway republic of Chechna, Radio Free Europe reports. Budget concerns, rather than a change of heart or conditions on the ground, is the likely culprit.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 27, 2009

U.S. Commander: Keep Brigades in Germany

By James Joyner

The commander of U.S. forces in Europe is urging keeping two heavy brigades in Germany rather than sending them back to the United States, citing the benefits of training with NATO allies and logistical advantages for regional deployments.

Germany NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2009

Is Gordon Brown the British Leader?

By James Joyner

Daniel Hannan, a Member of the European Parliament, launched a “three-and-a-half-minute diatribe” against Gordon Brown earlier this week, calling him “The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued government.”

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Mar 26, 2009

Geithner Dollar Remarks Create Panic

By James Joyner

The call earlier this week by the head of China’s central bank for a new world reserve currency to replace the dollar got a surprising second yesterday from U.S. treasury secretary Timothy Geithner, who told the Council on Foreign Relations that the administration is “quite open” to the idea. Shockingly, this did not go over […]

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2009

Where is Obama on Europe?

By James Joyner

Pierre Vimont, France’s ambassador to the United States, noted at an Atlantic Council event discussing next week’s NATO summit, that President Obama and his administration have made very strong efforts to signal how they view America’s relationship with China, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, and other parts of the world but has not yet let it be […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2009

Czech Government Falls, Sends Ripples Throughout EU

By James Joyner

A vote of no confidence has left in doubt the future of Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek’s center-right government and, along with it, the direction of the EU and several key regional issues.

European Union International Organizations

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