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.

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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Dive deep into developing stories, guided by continually updated expert analysis that leaves you better informed about the most pressing global issues behind the headlines.

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New Atlanticist

Jan 30, 2009

Turkey’s Erdogan Storms Out of Davos

By James Joyner

A bizarre incident at Davos yesterday, as reported by Katrin Bennhold for NYT: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey walked off the stage after an angry exchange with the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, during a panel discussion on Gaza at the World Economic Forum on Thursday, vowing never to return to the annual gathering.

Turkey

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2009

French Strike For Economic Stimulus

By James Joyner

As governments on both sides of the Atlantic scramble to cope with a global financial crisis most observers are calling the greatest since the Great Depression, the French citizenry seems to be losing patience. Hundreds of thousands of angry and fearful French workers mounted nationwide strikes and protests Thursday to demand President Nicolas Sarkozy do […]

France

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2009

Korea after Kim Coming Soon?

By Peter Cassata

Last week, Kim Jong-il met with a foreign representative, CCP International Department head Wang Jiarui, for the first time since what many intelligence reports believe was a stroke in August. He “warmly accepted” an invitation from Hu Jintao to visit China and even hinted at working with Obama over nuclear issues. However, the North Korean […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2009

Arctic Thaw Brings NATO Security Risks

By James Joyner

NATO leaders said yesterday that an Arctic thaw will create new security concerns for the Alliance — and they don’t mean “security” in a postmodern sense in which any concern is labeled one of security to help argue for increased funding.

NATO Security & Defense

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 […]

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