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 14, 2009

Solving Europe’s Gas Problem

By Borut Grgic

It is hard to be amused by what now is an annual Ukraine-Russia gas dispute. What surprises, is the continued lack of readiness in Europe to protect commerce and households from this problem. The lack of viable alternatives is particularly evident in new Europe.

Energy & Environment European Union

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2009

What Obama Can Learn From Europe

By James Joyner

Atlantic Council president and CEO Fred Kempe was interviewed by EurActiv on the impending transition in the American presidency and, especially, the implications for U.S. – European relations. Below are some excerpts.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 14, 2009

Priorities, Tactics, and Timing: The Stuff of Statecraft

By Robert Manning

In the torrent of foreign policy advice flowing to Barack Obama from underemployed think-tankers, job auditioners and academics, most is in the form of prescriptions: what to do on Iran, Russia, Darfur, or the Israeli-Palestine issue. But how and when an administration pursues a policy — and deciding what not to do — can be […]

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2009

U.S. Overtaking Italy as Top Wine Consumers

By James Joyner

The wine world is turning upside down, with upstarts drinking more wine than traditional powers France and Italy, Jenny Barchfield reports for AP. Global wine consumption, on the rise in past years, is forecast to continue to grow in the coming ones, with the United States overtaking Italy as the world’s biggest consumer by 2012, […]

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2009

Freed Gitmo Inmates Return to Terrorism

By James Joyner

Whether by mischievous intent or happy coincidence, mere hours after Obama people announced that he would order the Guantanamo Bay detention facility closed, the Bush administration announced that 61 former detainees had returned to terrorism

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2009

Bloggers Beware: The Carbon Footprint of a Google Search

By Peter Cassata

Curious about the environmental impact of the web? New research by Harvard physicist Alex Wissner-Gross found that a Google search generates around 7 grams of carbon dioxide, about half the energy required by a kettle to boil a cup of tea. Google, however, begs to differ.

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2009

UK: Pakistan Government Not Behind Mumbai Attacks

By James Joyner

David Miliband has absolved the Pakistani government of direct responsibility for the Mumbai terrorist attacks, while at the same time saying they need to do more to crack down on those responsible.

India United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Jan 13, 2009

Obama to Close Guantánamo Prison. Eventually.

By James Joyner

Like his erstwhile opponent for the White House, John McCain, President-elect Barack Obama spent the last two years condemning the existence of the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and promising to close it if elected. Now, however, he’s hedging his bets a bit.

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2009

Iceland Joining Eurozone?

By James Joyner

BBC Europe editor Mark Mardell believes Iceland will be forced into the Eurozone — and perhaps even the EU — as a result of the financial crisis. The country has been particularly hard hit, with the krona plummeting in value as the home of some of the world’s largest bank failures.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Jan 12, 2009

Pakistan Adrift, Washington Afraid

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Pakistan is adrift, and Washington is gripped with worry over the competence and prospects of Pakistan’s civilian government. The United States and Pakistan are caught in a dangerous spiral where Pakistani inactivity and incompetence lead to more heavy-handed U.S. policies, which stirs up more anti-Americanism among the Pakistani public.

Pakistan

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