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

Transcript

Apr 23, 2026

Full transcript: The 2026 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards honor leaders shaping the future with a collaborative spirit

By Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council honored two trailblazing corporate leaders, a military official, and a Grammy-winning country music artist for their roles in shaping the global landscape.

Freedom and Prosperity NATO

Event Recap

Apr 23, 2026

The 2026 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards: Honoring leaders who have thrived in a time of volatility

By Katherine Golden, Daniel Malloy

The Atlantic Council honored Banco Santander's Ana Botín, Chevron's Mike Wirth, NATO's Admiral Pierre Vandier, and country music artist Tanya Tucker.

Freedom and Prosperity NATO

UkraineAlert

Apr 23, 2026

Shakhtar Donetsk gives Ukraine’s war-weary football fans reason to cheer

By Mark Temnycky

Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk will face English team Crystal Palace next week in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League semifinal knowing that a win could provide a much-needed morale boost to millions of fans watching at home in war-torn Ukraine, writes Mark Temnycky.

Conflict Freedom and Prosperity
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Annual Report

Apr 22, 2026

2025 honor roll of contributors

By the Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council is grateful for the generous support of its partners.

Annual Report

Apr 22, 2026

Annual report 2025/2026: Financial summary

By the Atlantic Council

Explore the Atlantic Council's financial results for 2025.

Annual Report

Apr 22, 2026

Annual report 2025/2026: The Atlantic Council’s greatest hits of 2025

At the Atlantic Council, we connect the dots for policymakers on the most urgent global challenges of our age—and the list is long, from artificial intelligence to climate change to trade policy and beyond.

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Content

Insights & Impact

Nov 5, 2019

Report Launch: New risks to global financial stability

By Global Business & Economics Program

In “New Risks to Global Financial Stability” author Hung Tran, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics program, assesses the global financial system weaknesses and outlines steps to promote financial stability.

United States and Canada

Insights & Impact

Nov 5, 2019

The Global Business and Economics Center Hosts H.E. Nadia Calviño, Minister of Economy and Business of Spain

By Global Business & Economics Program

The Spanish Minister of Economy and Business, Nadia Calviño, shared her thoughts on Spain’s economic prospects and necessary reforms at the EU level.

European Union Trade and tariffs

Notes for the Board

Nov 5, 2019

Aubry Hruby in Project Syndicate

By Atlantic Council

“Smart companies will invest in local subsidiaries instead of trying to maintain strong central control, and they will embrace mobile technology to connect with consumers and build bridges to the informal sector.”

Insights & Impact

Nov 5, 2019

The Africa Center Hosts the Sudanese Finance Minister

By Africa Center

On Tuesday, October 22, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center hosted H.E. Ibrahim Elbadawi, minister of finance of the Republic of the Sudan, for a public discussion on the Sudanese economy. Following the ouster of longstanding president Omar al-Bashir in April and months of popular protests that led to the formation of a civilian-led transitional government […]

Inclusive Growth International Financial Institutions

Notes for the Board

Nov 5, 2019

Ellen Walsh in Reuters

By Atlantic Council

"Even getting Exxon or another major oil company to develop Syrian oil would be a “hard sell” given its relatively limited infrastructure and small output"

nuclear submarine and military members

Insights & Impact

Nov 5, 2019

Global Energy Center launches nuclear power and US national security issue brief

By Atlantic Council

In this analysis, the Atlantic Council estimates the value that the civilian nuclear power sector contributes to the United States’ national security apparatus. Based on a series of inputs, this analysis and conservative estimation finds that the nuclear power complex contributes an equivalent of more than $42.4 billion to US national security, as broadly defined.

United States and Canada

Insights & Impact

Nov 5, 2019

Public event with Dr. Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury

By Atlantic Council

This year's Global Energy Forum features Dr. Tawfiq-e Elahi Chowdhury, power, energy, and mineral resources affairs adviser to the prime minister of Bangladesh. The Global Energy Center had the chance to host an event with him at Atlantic Council headquarters in October 2019 to discuss Bangladesh's energy prospects and priorities in an increasingly interconnected region.

Bangladesh Energy Transitions

Notes for the Board

Nov 5, 2019

John Herbst in the Washington Post

By Atlantic Council

John Herbst, another former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine who has known Taylor for years, said Taylor’s opening statement probably was strategic. “His testimony knocked my socks off because of the detail,” he said. “I can only surmise that he included so much because he wanted to make sure the policy stayed in the right direction.”

Notes for the Board

Nov 5, 2019

Soft infrastructure development in Central Asia 2020

By Atlantic Council

The resource-rich and geographically strategic region of Central Asia is continuing to evolve. Once isolated and impoverished, the Central Asian republics have broken free from their Soviet legacies to pursue new economic development strategies.

Notes for the Board

Nov 5, 2019

Report launch: Prospects of the Russian protest movement

By Atlantic Council

After two decades under Vladimir Putin’s rule, Russians are taking to the streets in growing numbers to voice their opposition to the Kremlin and its increasingly unpopular policies. Russian youth now stand out as some of the loudest voices calling the Kremlin to account. As authorities have attempted to control, distract, and repress this wave […]

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