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

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Ukraine’s new drone blitz cuts Russian oil refining capacity by 30 percent

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine has renewed attacks on Putin's energy industry in recent days, conducting a series of powerful strikes that have reportedly cut Russian oil refining capacity by around 30 percent and sparked fuel shortages across the country, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Nov 10, 2026

Europe sees surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Europe has witnessed a surge in suspected Russian hybrid warfare incidents in recent weeks. This is fueling concerns that Vladimir Putin is escalating his intimidation campaign against Ukraine’s partners, writes Maksym Beznosiuk.

Conflict Cybersecurity
Nick-Clegg-waving

Inflection Points

Nov 10, 2026

Nick Clegg on Trump, Silicon Valley, and Big Tech’s political shift

By Frederick Kempe

Nick Clegg, former British deputy prime minister and Meta’s former president of global affairs, joins Frederick Kempe for a candid conversation about his time in government.

Technology & Innovation
View all commentary & analysis

Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

Nov 10, 2026

Materials matter: Managing critical commodities for the next-generation energy economy

By Reed Blakemore, Alexis Harmon

As economies electrify, demand will grow for materials such as copper, steel, and durable plastics that underpin the energy system. Managing these materials' supply risks will be crucial to the new energy economy.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

Report

Nov 10, 2026

Water infrastructure at the Mediterranean’s inflection point: Financing resilience for an industrializing, digitalizing region

By Hassan Tolba Aboelnga

Increasing demand, driven by industrialization and digital infrastructure, requires a region-wide rethinking of water planning and financing mechanisms.

Climate Change & Climate Action Egypt

Issue Brief

Nov 6, 2026

To settle Russia’s Ukraine war, Europe needs to let Kyiv in. Trump can help (really).

By James Batchik, Andrew D’Anieri

Any deal to end the war in Ukraine must fix a date for Kyiv to join the EU, but countless hurdles stand in the way. Washington has the leverage to help Brussels clear them—if it can use that leverage in a new way.

European Union Political Reform
View all In-depth Research & reports

Content

In the News

Jul 26, 2020

Deputy Director Julia Friedlander Quoted in SCMP News on US Response to EU-China Talks

By Julia Friedlander

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 26, 2020

Ullman in the U.S. Naval Institute: What would Ernie King do if he were CNO today?

By Harlan Ullman

Politics & Diplomacy United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 25, 2020

Nawaz quoted in VOA Urdu: The China-Iran Nexus

By Atlantic Council

China Iran

In the News

Jul 25, 2020

Nawaz joins the podcast “Pakistonomy” to discuss “The Battle for Pakistan” as current affairs in Pakistan

By Atlantic Council

Pakistan Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 25, 2020

Younus in his podcast “Pakistonomy,” episode 27: A Conversation with Shuja Nawaz

By Atlantic Council

Pakistan Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 25, 2020

Robert Manning quoted in Straits Times on the future of US China policy

By Atlantic Council

China Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 25, 2020

Slavin joins MENA on the MAP to discuss Iran and its interests in the Mediterranean region
Iran Middle East

In the News

Jul 24, 2020

The geopolitics of digital identity: Dr. David Bray and Lord Tim Clement Jones

By Atlantic Council

Lord Tim Clement Jones, Geotech fellow, and Dr. David Bray, director of the Geotech Center, discussed the issue of digital identity in a recent event at the IdentityNorth Summit. Lord Jones pointed out how technologies for securely connecting an individual’s digital presence to their identity are not new, but have yet to be applied at a national scale, or in a universal manner that would be necessary to maximize their impact. He recognized, though, that certain applications of digital identity technology might be of concern to ordinary people; though he might be comfortable using his digital identity as part of the United Kingdom Parliament’s new system for MPs to vote, the average citizen might take concern with their votes being tabulated digitally, or being connected to other facets of their online identity.

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

In the News

Jul 23, 2020

Dagres quoted in ABC Australia on explosions and fires in Iran
Conflict Iran

In the News

Jul 23, 2020

McFate joins CNBC to discuss the global rise of the private military industry

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Defense Industry
Load More