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

Stay updated

Explore our unique analysis

Fast Thinking

When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Council’s experts have you covered—delivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox.

Experts React

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.

Markup

Our experts decipher and annotate major speeches and policy documents to break down big ideas and lay them out in plain language.

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2008

Switzerland Opens Borders to Europe

By James Joyner

Switzerland has opened its borders to Europe, Deutsche Welle reports: For the 700,000 commuters who cross the borders between European Union countries and Switzerland every day, life got just a little bit easier on Friday.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2008

Quote of the Day

By James Joyner

“People assume we should be offended that somebody in the military thinks our song is annoying enough that played over and over it can psychologically break someone down. I take it as an honor to think that perhaps our song could be used to quell another 9/11 attack or something like that.” – Bassist Steve […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 12, 2008

China on a Diet as Consumption Drops?

By Peter Cassata

Figures published Wednesday on China’s economy show the country doing worse than the World Bank previously anticipated, boding poorly for China’s chances of avoiding the global downturn as well as for the West’s hopes of possible bailout assistance from Asia.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2008

Britain’s Shameful Iraq Withdrawal?

By Neil Leslie

Britain announced that it could withdraw its 4,100 remaining troops from Iraq by June 2009 if Iraqi elections in January go off peacefully. The withdrawal will mark the end of a six-year campaign, and the conclusion of an unpopular war both at home and abroad. Yet British troops can leave with their heads held high, […]

Iraq United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2008

Steven Chu, First Scientist Energy Secretary

By Erica McCarthy

It emerged last night that President-Elect Barack Obama will “likely” name physicist Steven Chu as the next Secretary of Energy. This is one of the most significant appointments the President-Elect has made yet, due to both the nature of the position and the unique background of the appointee. The official announcement is expected next week […]

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2008

Russia’s Millionaires Suffering

By James Joyner

Times are tough, it seems, even for Russian millionaires, TIME’s John Wendle reports. These days, Russia’s wealthy can’t always get what they want. The country’s once soaring economy is in freefall — growth, which averaged 7% over the past five years, could drop below 2% in 2009 according to economists — and it’s taking the […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Dec 11, 2008

Fixing NATO

By James Joyner

“What About NATO?” asks an unsigned Economist editorial, with the ambitious subhead “How the alliance should move forward.” Its premise is that the Georgia crisis demonstrated NATO’s lack of will to stand up to Russian aggression and created serious doubts among the Alliance’s new members, especially “Poles, Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians” and that therefore “NATO’s […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2008

Brits Not Joining Euro Despite Falling Pound

By James Joyner

Martin Walker argues that the precipitous fall of the British pound, which has lost a quarter of its value since the summer and is now at historic lows against the dollar, will not, as European Commission President Jose Barroso and others have speculated, nudge the UK into the Eurozone.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2008

How Special is the Special Relationship?

By James Joyner

Retired brigadier and author Allan Mallinson writes in the Times of London that the special relationship between the UK and the US “needs repair work.”

United Kingdom

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2008

It’s all the EU’s Fault – Obviously!

By Neil Leslie

China is angry with the Europeans. Why? Because EU President Nicolas Sarkozy has (crime of crimes!) met with the Dalai Lama. This is China’s problem, but some have suggested otherwise and blamed the EU. Relations between the EU and China have been strained this year according to Asia Times columnist David Gosset.

European Union International Organizations

Share

Issue briefs and reports