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

Econographics

Sep 21, 2026

The four issues our experts are watching ahead of this week’s Trump-Xi summit

By Beth Baltzan, Jeremy Mark, Stephen P. Vaughn, Jessie Yin

From AI governance to trade and economic headwinds in Beijing, our experts break down the key questions shaping the summit—and what could come next.

China Economy & Business

GeoTech Cues

Sep 21, 2026

AI is sprinting past human control. Can testing and evaluation catch up? 

By Evi Fuelle, Ryan Pan

Frontier AI is exposing the limits of today's testing systems. The United States needs a national AI assurance ecosystem.

Artificial Intelligence Digital Policy

MENASource

Sep 21, 2026

The Syria policy the US got wrong—and the bittersweet moment Washington finally got right

By Wa’el Alzayat

A former State Department official dissects how the US helped defeat ISIS but didn't protect the Syrian people.

Conflict Democratic Transitions
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

Sep 17, 2026

Fortifying USMCA through US–Mexico investment screening coordination

By the US–Mexico Binational Task Force on Economic Security and Competitiveness

One of the biggest blind spots in the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement is its treatment of capital and foreign investment screening. The current review presents an opportunity to address this and build a safer North America.

Critical Infrastructure Policy Economy & Business

Report

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

In-Depth Research & Reports

Sep 11, 2026

Submission to the UN: Advancing the just repatriation of illicit funds 

By Britt Gronemeyer, Celeste Kmiotek

How can the UN and the international community ensure that when illicit funds are seized, victims of the illicit activity benefit? The Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation Program contributed a brief to the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights with six key recommendations on the subject.

Corruption Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade
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Content

In the News

May 11, 2020

Klain in The National Interest: Putin Must Lead Russia’s Battle Against the Coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

Coronavirus Corruption

EnergySource

May 11, 2020

Increasing mutual dependence in Sino-Gulf relations is changing the strategic landscape

By Christian Le Miere

The conventional wisdom that the United States is the only viable partner for Gulf states is now being challenged by a new reality: the main importer of Gulf oil is now China. At the same time, China’s strategic goals increasingly encompass stability in the Middle East, while a more activist foreign policy under Xi Jinping ensures greater involvement in the security, as well as economic, discourse in the region.

China Energy & Environment

In the News

May 11, 2020

Busch in The Hill: A vote against the WTO is a vote against Trump’s trade priorities

By Marc L. Busch

Economy & Business English

In the News

May 9, 2020

Dr. David Bray in the Financial Times on the risks of new technology crowd-sourcing propaganda

By Atlantic Council

Dr. David Bray discussed the role of social media platform business models in propagating misinformation online in an interview for the Financial Times.

Resilience & Society Security & Defense

In the News

May 8, 2020

Hunter quoted in the New York Times on the Flynn case

By Atlantic Council

Rule of Law United States and Canada

Insights & Impact

May 7, 2020

Nooruddin joins Caveat to discuss what makes a good democracy

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Elections

In the News

May 7, 2020

Bruton quoted in Voice of America on concerns over Madagascar’s alleged herbal cure for COVID-19 due to lack of scientific testing

By Atlantic Council

Africa Coronavirus

In the News

May 7, 2020

Sherman quoted in Defense One on Putin’s response to coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

Europe & Eurasia Russia

In the News

May 7, 2020

Ullman in US Naval Institute: There is now only one path to 355 ships

By Harlan Ullman

Defense Policy Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 7, 2020

Ghori-Ahmad joins the podcast All Encompassing to discuss Harvard University Professor Joseph Nye’s book, “Do morals matter? Presidents and foreign policy from FDR to Trump.”

By Atlantic Council

International Norms Political Reform
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