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

Sep 11, 2008

Russia’s Godfathers

By Fran Burwell

Is French President Nicolas Sarkozy negotiating with Don Corleone? Sarkozy, leading the European Union effort to secure a Russian withdrawal from Georgia, has returned from Moscow with another agreement. This time, Russian troops are to withdraw from the so-called “buffer zone” after the placement of 200 EU monitors in the regions outside South Ossetia and […]

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Sep 11, 2008

Own Goal: Undermining the Restoration of America’s Image

By Robert Manning

One of the most embarrassing, counter-productive moments in soccer is when a player trying to defend against a score accidently kicks the ball into his own goal. Sadly, well-meaning politicians, in a misguided attempt to restore America’s image and clout abroad, may be committing the political equivalent of an Own Goal.

Economy & Business United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2008

‘New’ Europe Outworks ‘Old’ — USA, Too?

By James Joyner

Workers in eastern Europe work more hours and take less vacation than their counterparts to the west.

Eastern Europe Economy & Business

New Atlanticist

Sep 10, 2008

Will the Near Abroad Go Nuclear?

By Alexander Motyl

As Europe redefines its security interests vis-à-vis Russia in the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s war against Georgia, both sides have reverted to the kind of geopolitical thinking that, while reasonably accurate during the Cold War, is devoid of reality today.

Europe & Eurasia Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2008

Russia’s Empty Promises

By James Joyner

Mark Mardell, the BBC’s resident Euroblogger, is quite pleased with Moscow’s concessions to Nicolas Sarkozy and his EU delegation. While hedging his bets, he writes, “If this first superficial take is as it appears then Sarkozy has done rather well and those who insisted on both unity and a firmish line at the EU summit […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2008

The Kantian Fallacy: Democratopia?

By Robert Manning

One reliable Washington axiom is: When ideologues of the Left and Right agree on a policy idea, hold on to your wallet.

New Atlanticist

Sep 9, 2008

China’s Post-Olympic Image

By Joseph Snyder

The recently completed Summer Olympics extravaganza in Beijing was a monumental and spectacular undertaking that is unlikely to be repeated for a long time to come.

China

New Atlanticist

Sep 8, 2008

Focusing on the Wrong Georgia?

By James Joyner

Thomas Friedman, who it’s safe to say is no isolationist, argues in his Sunday column that the United States is devoting too many resources to the outside world.

The Caucasus

New Atlanticist

Sep 8, 2008

Would NATO Defend Narva?

By Alexander Motyl

Russia’s war against Georgia has forced Europeans to ask where their true interests lie and which country they’d be willing to defend if and when a Russian push ever comes to shove.

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Sep 8, 2008

NATO and the Near Abroad: Beyond Bucharest

By Nikolas Gvosdev

Those predicting that the Russian incursion into Georgia will rejuvenate transatlantic solidarity might be overly optimistic.

NATO Russia

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