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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New Atlanticist

Oct 16, 2008

Financial Crisis Map

By James Joyner

The folks at Reuters have compiled several tools to help us keep track of developments in the world financial crisis, including news roundups, videos, a timeline, and some graphics.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2008

Reports of America’s Decline Greatly Exaggerated

By James Joyner

Bret Stephens notes that there has been a steady stream of American decline commentary, especially from our friends in Europe, in recent weeks and that much of it brims with “ill-disguised glee.”

New Atlanticist

Oct 15, 2008

Financial Crisis Humor

By Neil Leslie

Last week Iceland was put up for sale on eBay allowing users “a unique opportunity to buy a Northern European country.” The auction began at a modest 99p but soon rose to £10,000,000 ($18,000,000). Bids, however, plateaued around that mark after it was revealed that Björk was not included in the price.

Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Oct 14, 2008

Financial Crisis: The (Evolving) View from Europe

By Peter Cassata

European views on the financial crisis are changing rapidly, but governments finally seem to have settled on a rescue package. Only four weeks ago, my colleague James Joyner noted a conspicuous lack of concern in the European press over growing U.S. financial woes.

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Oct 14, 2008

European Union Really United?

By Hugh De Santis

No longer in a state of denial, the Europeans have painfully acknowledged the arrival of the banking crisis to their shores. Acting in concert with the Federal Reserve Bank and the Bank of England, the European Central Bank announced an emergency interest rate cut to ease the intensifying global financial crisis.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 14, 2008

On the Shores of Lake Geneva: Integrity or Partnership with Aggression?

By David Smith

Russian occupation forces withdrew from parts of Georgia last week in partial fulfillment of their obligations under the ceasefire agreements of August 12 and September 8. In violation, the Russian army remains in Akhalgori, Perevi and Upper Abkhazia. Europe offered mixed reactions. Washington mumbled that it will make an assessment this week.

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Oct 10, 2008

Grim Prospects in Afghanistan

By Don Snow

The war in Afghanistan is now seven years old, and it is no closer to being over than it was when it began. For years, it has flown beneath the radar cover provided by Iraq. As the Iraq war winds down, however, attention has, as noted earlier this week ("Are We Losing in Afghanistan?"), begun […]

New Atlanticist

Oct 10, 2008

Economic Crisis in 3 Minutes

By James Joyner

The Spectator‘s Matthew Parris explains “the world economic crisis in three minutes” by means of a comedy sketch. Realizing that many of our readers are pressed for time, I’ve provided some excerpts

New Atlanticist

Oct 10, 2008

Banking Crisis Not a Black Swan

By James Joyner

Nassim Nicholas Taleb, author of last year’s bestseller The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable, feels no small sense of vindication with the current financial crash.

New Atlanticist

Oct 9, 2008

Piracy’s Silver Lining?

By Peter Pham

I recently outlined the growing challenge to international commerce and security posed by the burgeoning piracy in the waters off the Somali coast and lamented that it looked unlikely that the international community would muster the political will to confront the underlying causes of the pirate phenomenon. Nonetheless, there may be an upside to the […]

European Union International Organizations

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