In-depth research and reports

Our programs and centers deliver relevant, policy-focused research that matters to inform debate and action. Our focus is always on moving debate forward, integrating analysis with active, relevant conclusions throughout our published work.

Issue Brief

Oct 27, 2026

Any means necessary: Are courts safe in the digital age?  

By Lisandra Novo

Reports are on the rise of hacks at federal courts in the United States, putting sensitive data, such as informants' identities, at risk. In litigation involving spyware, even more sensitive data is at risk. What protective measures should be in place to safeguard evidence?

Cybersecurity Human Rights

Report

Oct 26, 2026

Pakistan’s changing development assistance landscape: Manifestations, implications, and opportunities

By Leon S. Waskin, Imran Shauket

Pakistan’s development assistance landscape is undergoing a major structural shift. Western bilateral aid is declining, multilateral development bank (MDB) financing is increasing to compensate, and non-Western bilateral and philanthropic flows are growing steadily.

Pakistan South Asia

Report

Oct 26, 2026

Bangladesh’s changing development assistance landscape: Manifestations, implications, and opportunities

By Leon S. Waskin, Jon F. Danilowicz, Imran Shauket

Bangladesh is absorbing one of the most severe aid shocks in its history while simultaneously benefiting from an unprecedented surge in remittances and multilateral development bank lending.

Bangladesh South Asia

Report

Oct 20, 2026

The European Union as a compound power in Cold War 2.0

By Piotr Arak and Velina Tchakarova

Contrary to the prevailing narrative, the European Union has the economic power and strategic vision to act as a credible major power. Willingness to act is the missing piece.

Defense Industry Energy Transitions

Issue Brief

Oct 20, 2026

Canadian west coast oil as a hedge for East Asian energy security

By Joseph Webster

Canadian oil imports can provide insurance and reliability for East Asian countries amid the instability of oil supply from the Middle East.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Oct 15, 2026

Measuring Europe’s rearmament: A year of the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030

By Eva Mulholland, Aurélie Vittot

One year since the EU debuted its "Defence Readiness Roadmap," with forty-five milestones Europe must meet to take responsibility for its own defense by 2030, is the EU on track?

Defense Policy Europe

Report

Oct 15, 2026

How Syria can avoid the trap of ethno-sectarianism

By Marie Forestier, Arthur Quesnay

In postwar Iraq and Lebanon, power-sharing agreements allocated top government jobs based on ethnic and religious affiliation. Political deadlock and violence followed. As Syrians rebuild after decades of dictatorship and war, they should avoid making the same mistake.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions

Issue Brief

Oct 15, 2026

Toplines: Twenty-five years after anthrax, the US still is not prepared for a biological attack

By Robert Bradley, John T. O’Brien

The anthrax events of 2001 transpired twenty-five years ago. The US still needs better preparation against biological attacks.

National Security

Issue Brief

Oct 14, 2026

Optimizing the NATO 1.5 percent investment commitment for energy security

By Chuck Dockery, Joel Spangenberg, Thomas Winter

NATO's 1.5 percent resilience pledge can be leveraged to build a capability-based energy framework, drawing from lessons in Ukraine and globally.

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Oct 14, 2026

Ensuring US military readiness in the face of water, power, and fuel shortages

By Michael Dunn, Abraham Holland, Marcus Lee

US overseas military installations depend on host nations for power, fuel, and water. A comprehensive review and investment plan is urgently needed to meet the energy and infrastructure security requirements of modern warfare.

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2026

Enabling NATO’s technological transformation

By David Julazadeh

NATO faces persistent challenges in translating technological potential into operational capability. Recent analysis of NATO innovation efforts suggests that the limiting factor is often the ability of organizations and operators to adopt, experiment with, and implement new capabilities effectively.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies
Boats and tourists around Wat Arun in Bangkok.

Issue Brief

Oct 6, 2026

The new geoeconomics of Bretton Woods

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou, Martin Mühleisen, Nicole Goldin, Hung Tran, and Nisha Narayanan

Trade, investment, technology, finance, energy, and critical minerals are increasingly intertwined with national security. But globalization is not ending—it is becoming more contested and fragmented.

Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Oct 2, 2026

The risks of the strategic petroleum reserve’s four-decade low

By Jamie Webster and Morgan D. Bazilian

The US Strategic Petroleum Reserve has reached a historic low. As oil markets continue to tighten, refilling the reserve will become increasingly difficult.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Sep 29, 2026

The strategic rationale for closer investment ties between Europe and the Gulf

By Jeffrey Lightfoot

Europe and the Gulf both stand to benefit from investing more in each region. Which projects make the most sense?

Economy & Business Europe

Issue Brief

Sep 29, 2026

Trade and connectivity in the Europe-Gulf strategic partnership

By Valbona Zeneli

Boosting trade between European and Gulf states requires progress on two key projects planned to connect the regions: the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and a free trade agreement. Can the disruption caused by the Iran war provide an impetus to move these stalled projects forward?

Economy & Business Europe

Issue Brief

Sep 29, 2026

Three principles to guide European-Gulf defense cooperation

By Jean-Loup Samaan

How can Europe and Gulf cooperate more effectively on defense?

Defense Industry Europe

Issue Brief

Sep 29, 2026

How Europe and the Gulf can unite behind an energy-transition agenda

By Ariel Ezrahi

European and Gulf states share a strong interest in restoring the free flow of energy cut off by the Iran war, and in reducing their economies' exposure to chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. What's their best path forward?

Energy Transitions Europe

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Sep 28, 2026

Technology and the Global South: A US strategy for competitiveness

By Conrad Tucker, Peter Engelke

The United States and China are engaged in a strategic competition for scientific and technological leadership. To prevail, the United States must strengthen its tech-centric engagement with countries across the Global South.

Africa Artificial Intelligence

Issue Brief

Sep 24, 2026

The Saudi economy can hold out through year’s end—even if oil exports drop to zero

By Khalid Azim

First the Strait of Hormuz closed, so Saudi Arabia started sending more oil over land through its East-West Pipeline. Then drone strikes damaged the pipeline, and the Iran-backed Houthis fired missiles near the pipeline’s Red Sea terminus. Does Saudi Arabia need to plan for a near term without meaningful oil exports?

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Report

Sep 23, 2026

Building a multilateral cognitive warfare defense network: A collaborative framework for the United States, Japan, and Taiwan

By Yu-Hao “Vinson” Shen

Beijing is pressuring Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines not only with ships and aircraft but also in the cognitive domain—which no multilateral mechanism defends. This report explores what it would take to build a coordinated multilateral defense network to combat this threat across the first island chain.

Artificial Intelligence China
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