Issue briefs and reports

Issue briefs and reports

Our programs and centers deliver in-depth, highly relevant issue briefs and reports that break new ground, shift opinions, and set agendas on public policy, with a focus on advancing debates by integrating foundational research and analysis with concrete policy solutions.

The European Union as a compound power in Cold War 2.0

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
The European Union as a compound power in Cold War 2.0

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
The European Union as a compound power in Cold War 2.0

Russia Tomorrow Sep 17, 2026

New voices, old friends: How Russia targets its messaging in the Global South

By Casey Michel

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the themes and methods that Russia uses to target audiences in the Global South.
Africa Civil Society

Content

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

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 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 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
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