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.

USA Done by 2010: Russian Diplomatic Academy Dean

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 4, 2009

USA Done by 2010: Russian Diplomatic Academy Dean

By James Joyner

A prominent Russian scholar is making a bold prediction: If you’re inclined to believe Igor Panarin, and the Kremlin wouldn’t mind if you did, then President Barack Obama will order martial law this year, the U.S. will split into six rump-states before 2011, and Russia and China will become the backbones of a new world […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Deal or No Deal?: Missile Defense for Iranian Nukes

By Peter Cassata

A letter from Obama offering to shelve the planned U.S. missile defense system in return for Russian cooperation in stopping Iran from developing nuclear weapons was hand-delivered to Medvedev three weeks ago by U.S. diplomatic officials, the NYT reported. Although fervently objecting to the missile defense shield, Russia’s reception of the letter was lukewarm. Obama […]

Iran Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Poll: Russia Reset and EU Future

By James Joyner

Our most recent poll on efforts to “push the reset button” on relations with Russia shows substantially more optimism among Europeans than Americans.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

Power Transitions in U.S. and Iraq

By David Smith

“Congratulations, Mr. President.” With those words from US Chief Justice John Roberts, Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. Under the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, this orderly transfer of power happened at 12 noon on January 20 — no sooner and no later.

Iraq United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Mar 4, 2009

5 Questions for Jim Inhofe

By James Joyner

Senator James M. Inhofe is the second ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee and is a former chairman of (and now ranking Republican on) the Environment and Public Works Committee. I had the opportunity to get his thoughts on some key issues of interest to the Atlantic Council community.

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2009

Did Obama Snub Britain?

By James Joyner

The Spectator’s Alex Massie comments on President Obama’s “snub” of British PM Gordon Brown by failing to engage in a joint press conference with him on the White House lawn.

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2009

European Court Fines Turkey

By James Joyner

Turkey has once again been rebuffed by Europe: The European Court of Human Rights Tuesday ruled Turkey had violated the property rights of a Greek Orthodox foundation by seizing its land and ordered the government to pay damages.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 3, 2009

Russian Elections Follow Latin America Model

By James Joyner

Russia held local elections Sunday but most observers are crying Foul! Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party has swept local elections that other parties and independent observers said were awash with voting irregularities.

Russia

New Atlanticist

Mar 2, 2009

NATO’s Three Faces

By James Joyner

In a new essay at The National Interest, Richard Betts makes a point I’ve been making since before this blog started: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is one of the most successful alliances of all time, but after the cold war and the successful completion of its mission, NATO suffered an identity crisis. It now […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 2, 2009

Economic ‘Iron Curtain’ Dividing Europe?

By James Joyner

The European Union yesterday rejected calls from Hungary for a massive bailout plan for struggling economies in Eastern Europe, despite dire warnings of a new “iron curtain” dividing the Continent.

European Union International Organizations

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