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.

Kyrgyzstan Closing U.S. Base Key for Afghanistan

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

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.

New Atlanticist

Feb 2, 2009

The United States is Still Sticky

By Derek Reveron

One consistent theme at the World Economic Forum in Davos was blaming the United States and calling for a new global economic order that doesn’t speak with an American accent. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said, “The current crisis has fully exposed the deficiencies in the international financial system and its governance structures. Developing countries should […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 2, 2009

Preparing for the NATO Summit: From Allies to Partners

By Sven Biscop

At NATO’s 60th anniversary Summit in April the tasking will be given to draft a new strategic concept, which will undoubtedly provoke an intense and none too easy debate about the future of the Alliance. When undertaking this exercise, it is important to realize that the context in which NATO operates has changed fundamentally. Accordingly, […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 1, 2009

Davos Provides No Answers

By James Joyner

The annual economic summit in Davos did not come up with a magic bullet to solve the world’s financial woes, Edith Lederer reports for AP. Mired in indecision and uncertainty, the world’s foremost gathering of the best and brightest in government and business failed to come up with any new plan to stem, much less […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 31, 2009

Spain Opens ‘Universal Justice’ Can of Worms

By James Joyner

Who has jurisdiction over alledged war crimes? A growing number of countries believe they do, Paul Haven reports for AP. A Spanish judge’s decision to investigate seven Israeli officials over a deadly 2002 attack against Hamas that had nothing to do with Spain has renewed a debate about the long arm of European justice.

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2009

Nabucco Summit Exposes Differences

By Peter Cassata

This week’s Nabucco summit in Budapest brought little resolution to the problems that have plagued the proposed pipeline since its conception in 2002. The project to bring Caspian Sea energy directly to Europe has been lackluster in attracting financing and has suffered from political disagreements between the countries involved. Although some EU funds were offered […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2009

Obama’s Team of Rivals Gets More Interesting

By James Joyner

Samantha Power, Obama foreign policy advisor who was forced to resign after calling Hillary Clinton a “monster” during the heat of the Democratic nomination battle, will be working closely with Clinton, AP reports.

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