Insights and impact

About the Council

The Atlantic Council promotes constructive leadership and engagement in international affairs based on the Atlantic Community’s central role in meeting global challenges. The Council provides an essential forum for navigating the dramatic economic and political changes defining the twenty-first century by informing and galvanizing its uniquely influential network of global leaders. Through the papers we write, the ideas we generate, and the communities we build, the Council shapes policy choices and strategies to create a more secure and prosperous world.

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Featured content

NATO 20/2020

Twenty bold ideas to reimagine the Alliance after the 2020 US election

More than two decades after NATO’s inspired decision to invite former adversaries to join its ranks, the Alliance is in need of equally captivating ideas. The essays in this volume are intended to push the Alliance to think boldly and creatively in the service of recapturing the public’s imagination.

Read our provocative essays on the future of NATO

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Explore the podcast series

NATO 20/2020 Podcast

NATO 20/2020 is a weekly podcast that explores 20 bold ideas to push NATO to be more visionary, more capable, and more self-evidently valuable to the security of more people.

Making a difference

Learn more about the Atlantic Council’s insights & impact through these stories of how our regional and thematic programs are making a difference not only in shaping how we view global issues but also in shaping their outcome.

Artwork by Peter Kuper

In the News

Dec 17, 2020

The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center partners with LEADERS Magazine to dedicate an entire issue to resilience

For its Fall/Winter issue of 2020, LEADERS Magazine, asked the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center to produce an issue dedicated to resilience. The Resilience Issue assembles a broad range of global thought leaders and experts who are currently tackling the challenges and crises facing the world from different perspectives.

Insights & Impact

Mar 3, 2020

Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, 2020 the DFRLab hosted "Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus," a timely series of panels on the potential geopolitical and economic consequences of Coronavirus, and how misinformation about the crisis may influence its impact.

China Disinformation

Program Impact Story

Feb 6, 2020

US energy priorities abroad: A conversation with US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette

By Global Energy Center

On Friday, February 7, 2020, the Atlantic Council hosted newly appointed US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette for a public address and moderated discussion about US government energy priorities abroad.

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Latest commentary and analysis

MENASource

May 26, 2026

An oil windfall will not fix Libya’s economy

By Ahmed Shalghoum and Frank Talbot

Libya's new unified budget needs transparency, accountability, and oversight to deliver for the people.

Economy & Business Libya

UkraineAlert

May 26, 2026

Kyiv hosts Belarus opposition leader as Moscow drags Minsk closer to war

By Hanna Liubakova

As concern mounts that Moscow is pushing Minsk to join the invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv is strengthening ties with the democratic Belarusian opposition, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Conflict

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 25, 2026

Braw in Mirror on a Russian warship being spotted 30 miles of the UK coast

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 25, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was mentioned in an article in Mirror on the Russian cruise missile ship RFN Admiral Grigorovich being spotted 30 miles off the UK coast while escorting sanctioned Russian tankers through the English Channel.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

May 21, 2026

For homeland missile defense, think Golden Zones, not a Golden Dome 

By Ankit Panda

While the second Trump administration correctly diagnoses a more dangerous nuclear environment facing the country, a comprehensive defensive system is the wrong prescription. The risks of prompting adversary proliferation and stretching US resources thin are too high.

Defense Technologies Missile Defense

Issue Brief

May 21, 2026

Golden Dome is the missile defense the US needs

By Henry “Trey” Obering

The United States should pursue a comprehensive missile defense system to protect the homeland from advanced threats posed by China, Russia, and North Korea. Political will from the Trump administration and advances in technology make the idea of the long-discussed "dome" over the United States more feasible now than ever.

Missile Defense Security & Defense

Issue Brief

May 13, 2026

The US AI health data collision: Charting the future of US cross-border data flow policy, health data, and health and biopharma AI policy 

By Justin Sherman

The race to control America's most sensitive data is already underway, and most people have no idea.

Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity
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Content

In the News

May 28, 2020

How tech, data and geopolitics impact food

By Atlantic Council

On May 28, 2020, Ms. Daniella Taveau, Dr. Molly Jahn, and Dr. David Bray, Director of Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, discussed how tech, data, and geopolitics impact food. The conversation focused on how these vulnerabilities have existed for sometime and how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, amplifying existing instabilities, inequities, and insecurities, and will continue to do so unless action is taken to address problems in the food system.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

In the News

May 27, 2020

Robert Manning quoted in CNN on the US strategy toward Hong Kong

By Atlantic Council

China East Asia

In the News

May 27, 2020

Riaz as a panelist at the UC Berkeley Institute for South Asia Studies: Vulnerable Populations and COVID-19: Bangladesh During a Global Pandemic

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Coronavirus

In the News

May 27, 2020

Pavel discusses COVID-19 and preparing for future crises on DefAero podcast

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council senior vice president and Scowcroft Center Director Barry Pavel discusses lessons learned from COVID-19 and necessary reforms to prepare for future crises on the DefAero Report Daily Podcast.

Coronavirus Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 27, 2020

Burlinghaus in The National UAE: Why blackouts are so common in Afghanistan
Afghanistan Energy & Environment

In the News

May 27, 2020

Ahmad in the EastWest Institute: Terrorism in Afghanistan: A Joint Threat Assessment

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Security & Defense

In the News

May 27, 2020

Herbst quoted by the Washington Post on the risk of Ukraine being drawn into the US election

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Elections

In the News

May 27, 2020

Ullman in UPI: The Fifth Horseman is coronavirus’ massive disruption

By Harlan Ullman

Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 26, 2020

Dr. David Bray on COVID-19 as the great disruption accelerator

By Atlantic Council

Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center discussed on the Business Learning Institute's Future Proof podcast that today's challenging moment also presents immense opportunity for transformation and the introduction of changes society has long needed.

Coronavirus Digital Policy

In the News

May 26, 2020

Sherman in Defense News: War rhetoric surrounds COVID surveillance
Cybersecurity National Security
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