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

May 20, 2008

China Teaches Something in Quake

By Frederick Kempe

Natural disasters have political consequences. If George W. Bush had handled the Hurricane Katrina aftermath in 2005 as well as China’s leadership thus far has reacted to its far more deadly earthquake, he would be more popular and could have finished his second term with greater achievements on other fronts. Tempting as it is to […]

China

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2008

Bush Can Score With Diplomacy When He Tries

By Frederick Kempe

Praising President George W. Bush’s foreign policy skill is a sure way to lose dinner invitations in Washington. So hold the dessert: Bush and his team deserve credit for playing the bad hand of his waning presidency skillfully and tenaciously at this month’s NATO summit in Bucharest.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2008

German Chill Toward NATO’s Growth Ignores Past

By Frederick Kempe

There are still times when Germans must be reminded of history’s lessons. One of those came after the Sept. 11 attacks, when a courageous Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder risked a no-confidence vote to take German combat troops to Afghanistan. His argument: History’s obligation wasn’t pacifism, as many argued, but a willingness to shed blood against new […]

Germany NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 18, 2008

Bush Leadership in Meltdown Troubles Investors

By Frederick Kempe

The cost of faltering American leadership is growing as quickly as you can say Bear Stearns. And the stakes in the U.S. election campaign increase with every dismal twist of the economic cycle. Much of what we are watching feels like an emerging-market meltdown to top international financiers: runaway debt, a declining currency, imploding markets, […]

New Atlanticist

Feb 29, 2008

Russia’s Medvedev Deserves Handshake, Nosehold

By Frederick Kempe

Russia’s presidential vote Sunday poses a dilemma for Western leaders and American presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama. Is it better to condemn the rigged elections or embrace the victor in hopes of encouraging a more cooperative Kremlin? Answer: Hold your nose with one hand and extend the other to Dmitry Medvedev, […]

Russia

New Atlanticist

Feb 14, 2008

Clinton, McCain, Obama Dominate Europe’s Halls

By Frederick Kempe

Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Barack Obama were all that Europeans wanted to talk about in the hallways and at the dinners of the annual Munich Conference on Security Policy over the weekend.

Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Feb 5, 2008

Afghanistan Spins Out of Control, U.S. Fiddles

By Frederick Kempe

NATO is winning most battles in Afghanistan, but the international community is losing the war.That has consequences far beyond Afghanistan if the U.S., Europe and its friends don’t change course fast. The dangers include deepening of regional instability that engulfs nuclear- tipped Pakistan, spreading global terrorism and the declining relevance of the North Atlantic Treaty […]

Afghanistan United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jan 22, 2008

Chinese, Gulf Funds Deserve U.S. Welcome Mat

By Frederick Kempe

It’s good and bad that the issue of sovereign wealth funds has entered the U.S. presidential debate. What’s positive is that the candidates have the chance to educate the American electorate during a moment of mounting economic gloom — and while people are paying attention — about the increased role that foreign capital plays in […]

United States and Canada

New Atlanticist

Jan 8, 2008

White House Winner Must Play New Game Overseas

By Frederick Kempe

When American voters get in one of their “change” moods, as demonstrated by the galloping fever for Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama, they discount the value of foreign-policy experience in their candidates.

New Atlanticist

Jan 3, 2008

Bhutto Killing Breeds a Failing Nuclear State

By Frederick Kempe

Two months ago I suggested that, amid the Bush administration’s focus on Iraq’s present dangers and Iran’s future perils, Pakistan was most likely to produce a so- called black-swan event.

Pakistan

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