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.

Russia Halts Missile Deployments in Europe

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

Jan 28, 2009

Russia Halts Missile Deployments in Europe

By Peter Cassata

Russia has “suspended” plans to deploy Iskander missiles in its European enclave of Kaliningrad. Unveiled in November, the plans were intended to be a response to the U.S. missile defense installations scheduled to be built in the Czech Republic and Poland. A Russian military official said the announcement is related to indications from the U.S. […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2009

NATO ‘Concerned’ About Russian Bases in Abkhazia

By James Joyner

Yesterday’s report of a Russian naval nase to be built in Abkhazia is being greeted with displeasure by NATO, Reuters reports: Representatives of the 26 NATO states discussed the issue on Wednesday and alliance Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer will raise it with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov in February, spokesman James Appathurai said.

NATO Russia

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2009

Obama’s Angels Cover Controversy

By James Joyner

Both Spencer Ackerman and Matthew Yglesias, males both, are highly offended by the cover of the current The National Interest depicting the foreign policy triumvirate of Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice, and Janet Napolitano as “Obama’s Angels,” claiming the implication that these accomplished women are somehow analogous to sexy female crimefighters is insulting to women.

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2009

Europe’s Welfare System Model for USA and China?

By James Joyner

In an International Herald Tribune column asking "Is Europe’s welfare system a model for the 21st century?" Katrin Bennhold contends that, as the world’s economic elite gather in Davos for the annual World Economic Forum, there is decidedly less Europe-bashing than in years past.

New Atlanticist

Jan 28, 2009

Obama’s New Afghanistan Strategy

By James Joyner

The Obama administration will be stepping up the pressure on the Karzai government and NATO to do more in Afghanistan while simultaneously sharply cutting back the goals of the mission there.

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2009

First Openly Gay Prime Minister

By James Joyner

I noted earlier this morning the news that Iceland’s government has collapsed and that Social Affairs Minister Jóhanna Sigurdardóttir will likely be the new prime minister until elections can be held in May. Via Andrew Sullivan, though, I see that Iceland Review has a bit of trivia that justifies mention as a standalone post rather […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2009

Obama’s First Interview Goes to Al Arabiya

By James Joyner

The young Obama administration has sent yet another signal that it intends to improve the public diplomacy ties strained by the Bush administration: His very first major television interview was granted, not to an American network or even one of our European allies but rather to Al-Arabiya, the controversial Middle Eastern network founded six years […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2009

The End of Piracy: Can NATO Contribute?

By James Easaw

Now that the piracy crisis centered off the Somali Coast/Gulf of Aden, the Horn of Africa and, to a lesser degree, the West African Coast in the Gulf of Guinea has become big news, the international community, most recently the United Nations, has sprung into action. The end of piracy draws nigh. In fact, those […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2009

Iceland Scrambles to Replace Government Felled by Financial Crisis

By James Joyner

Icelandic President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has asked center-left Social Democratic Alliance Party leader Ingibjorg Gisladottir to create a new coalition with the Left-Green movement to replace the government of Geir Haarde that collapsed Monday, AP reports. Social Affairs Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir is expected to serve as the interim prime minister until new elections are held […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 27, 2009

EU Agrees to Take Non-Dangerous Gitmo Prisoners. Maybe. Some Day.

By James Joyner

The foreign ministers of several EU members say that will consider taking prisoners released from Guantanamo Bay, provided that the United States can prove to a degree of absolute certainty that they are not dangerous.

European Union International Organizations

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