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.

Read our annual report
Learn more

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

Download PDF
Read the essays
sign up for more

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.

view all Program impact stories

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
View all commentary & analysis

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
View all In-depth Research & reports

Content

In the News

May 15, 2020

Bridging the digital divide

By Atlantic Council

Alongside Dr. Linton Wells II of George Mason University, Dr. Bray laid out practical ways for individuals, governments, and companies to address the digital divide on an episode of the STEMTalks podcast.

Economy & Business Entrepreneurship

In the News

May 14, 2020

McFate in the Washington Post: Venezuela shows how mercenaries have become a global security threat

By Atlantic Council

Africa Conflict

In the News

May 14, 2020

Director Josh Lipsky Quoted in NY Times on Roberto Azevedo’s Resignation from the WTO

By Josh Lipsky

Read the full article here.

International Financial Institutions

In the News

May 14, 2020

Sherman in Lawfare: What’s in a New Bill to ‘Warn’ Americans Downloading Foreign Apps?
Cybersecurity Internet

In the News

May 14, 2020

AITrends Executive Interview with Dr. David Bray

By Atlantic Council

Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center, gave an in-depth interview for AITrends Executive Interview series discussing the GeoTech Center, AI, and the future of emerging technologies. The interview discusses the need for data trusts, why AI cannot help presently in some cases with the pandemic, and how much of a challenge […]

Economy & Business Technology & Innovation

In the News

May 13, 2020

Åslund quoted by The Washington Post on Ukraine’s IMF prospects

By Atlantic Council

Corruption English

In the News

May 13, 2020

Kroenig in Foreign Policy: The United States Should Not Align with Russia to Counter China

By Atlantic Council

On May 13, Foreign Policy published an op-ed by Scowcroft Center Deputy Director Matthew Kroenig in which he argues the United States should not align with Russia to counter China. Instead, the United States should leverage its democratic advantages and work with allies to counter both Russia and China. While Russia and China may be […]

China Politics & Diplomacy

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

May 13, 2020

Chaudhary joins the Foreign Policy Institute at SAIS to discuss Women’s Leadership in a Global Crisis

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Resilience

In the News

May 13, 2020

Lipner quoted in Jewish Insider on Pompeo’s visit to Israel

By Atlantic Council

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 12, 2020

Aman in Responsible Statecraft: Fighting locust swarms is a regional matter

By Atlantic Council

Energy & Environment South Asia
Load More