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.

G20 Leaders Proclaim Consensus Without Achieving 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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New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2009

G20 Leaders Proclaim Consensus Without Achieving It

By James Joyner

The G20 ministers ended their meetings yesterday proclaiming consensus and pledging to cooperate in solving the financial crisis. This, despite their being very little consensus among the G20 leaders on what policies to take and no agreement being reached that will have meaningful policy impact.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Mar 15, 2009

EU Hands Chad Mission to UN

By James Joyner

The European Union has handed over command of the peacekeeping mission in Chad to the United Nations.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2009

Russia Considers Caribbean Based Bombers

By James Joyner

A senior Russian general says his country is contemplating basing strategic bombers in the Caribbean, either on a Venezuelan island or Cuba.

Cuba Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2009

Switzerland to Cooperate on Tax Evasion

By James Joyner

Switzerland, long a destination for international criminals wishing to launder money and evade taxes, is finally relenting to pressure from the United States and other Western states to conform to international law.

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2009

Obama Repeating Bush Mistakes in South Asia?

By James Joyner

Juan Cole, a leading historian of the Islamic world and fervent critic of the Bush administration’s policies, tells Harper‘s Scott Collins that he’s not so pleased with the Obama administration’s policies, either.

South Asia United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2009

Pakistan Protests Bring Fear of Military Coup

By James Joyner

Top diplomats from the United States and the United Kingdom are trying to broker a deal between the government of Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and chief opposition leader Nawaz Sharif amid fears that a string of protests could result in yet another military takeover.

Pakistan United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2009

Does De Gaulle Still Matter?

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Forty-three years after General Charles de Gaulle’s removal of France from NATO’s integrated command structure, Nicolas Sarkozy announced in an important speech that his country will reverse this symbolically important legacy of Gaullist heritage at the upcoming NATO summit.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2009

America Could Learn From Europe on Appointment Process

By James Joyner

H. Rodgin Cohen, “the leading candidate for Deputy Treasury Secretary, has withdrawn from consideration,” ABC News chief Washington correspondent George Stephanoupoulous reports. He adds, “Cohen had risen to the top after the withdrawal last week of expected deputy treasury secretary pick Annette Nazareth.”

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2009

Don’t Let the Pentagon Implode

By Harlan Ullman

This week the National Defense University and the Atlantic Council jointly hosted a major conference in Washington on the future of the Department of Defense, drawing literary license from President Obama by calling it “Audacity for Change – Transforming How the Pentagon Conducts Its Business.”

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2009

A U.S. Backed North-South Corridor

By Alexandros Petersen

It is a pet peeve of many a “Eurasianist” geopolitical analyst that the U.S. State Department groups Central and South Asia together in its organizational structure. There may be historical links across Afghanistan, they argue, but these pale in comparison to the Caspian-Central Asia region’s links to Russia, the West, and even China. Indeed, the […]

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