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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.

EU and Russia Meet on Energy and Security

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.

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EU and Russia Meet on Energy and Security

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

EU and Russia Meet on Energy and Security

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

Feb 6, 2009

EU and Russia Meet on Energy and Security

By James Joyner

Leaders of the European Union and Russia are meeting today for the first time since the gas crisis, more for the purpose of testing the waters than achieving any diplomatic breakthroughs, Oleg Shchederov reports for Reuters.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2009

Protectionism Wave Crashing Over Global Economy

By James Joyner

One disturbing but predictable response to the global financial crisis has been the rise of legislation aimed at protecting domestic industries and jobs by various anti-trade measures.

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2009

The Engagement Fallacy

By Robert Manning

One of the great (and ridiculously overused) foreign policy buzzwords of our times is engagement.  Do we “engage” (pick your poison) Iran, North Korea, Hamas, and so on?  We speak of engagement as if it were not a means to an end, but an end in itself. 

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2009

France Wants Key NATO Posts for Increased Presence

By James Joyner

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is offering a very meager increase in French participation in NATO in exchange for command of two prestigious posts.  

France NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2009

U.S. Pressures NATO on Afghanistan

By James Joyner

A major overseas conference provides the Obama administration its first chance to influence the direction of transatlantic relations.  David Rising reports for AP.

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2009

Russia Forms 7-Nation Rapid Reaction Force

By James Joyner

Russia has announced the creation of a rapid reaction military force comprised of seven former Soviet states.  President Dmitry Medvedev said Russia, Armenia, Belarus and four Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan — had reached the agreement to form a new security force during a summit of the Moscow-dominated Collective Security Treaty […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 4, 2009

Kyrgyzstan Closing U.S. Base Key for Afghanistan

By James Joyner

On the same day militants took out a key bridge used to get supplies in from Pakistan, NATO’s logistical problems in Afghanistan got worse. AP’s Mike Eckel:

Afghanistan NATO

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2009

Beating Al Qaeda But Losing in Afghanistan?

By James Joyner

 We’re winning the war against al Qaeda, killing its leaders faster than competent replacements can be found, NPR‘s Tom Gjelten reports.

Afghanistan

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2009

North Korea Prepares Test of Long Range Missile – And Obama

By James Joyner

North Korea is about to test a long range Taepodong-2 missile that could hit targets in the United States, Richard Lloyd Parry reports for The Times.

New Atlanticist

Feb 3, 2009

Pakistan Bridge Attack Cuts NATO Supplies

By James Joyner

NATO supply lines into Afghanistan have been cut by a terrorist attack on a key bridge, Riaz Khan reports for AP. Islamist militants blew up a bridge in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, cutting a major supply line for Western troops in Afghanistan, a government official and a NATO spokesman said. 

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