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

Apr 22, 2026

In renegotiating the USMCA, Mexico should neither rush nor stall

By Phil Lovegren, Ernesto Stein

With the USMCA under review, Mexico faces a delicate balance: rushing risks economic harm, but delay brings uncertainty—making patience a viable fallback strategy.

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

UkraineAlert

Apr 20, 2026

Russia threatens Europe as Ukraine escalates strikes on Putin’s oil industry

By Giorgi Revishvili

The Kremlin issued a thinly veiled threat to European leaders last week over their support for Ukraine's drone program as escalating Ukrainian strikes on Russia's energy infrastructure cause unprecedented damage, writes Giorgi Revishvili.

Conflict Defense Technologies

MENASource

Apr 20, 2026

The Iran war has forced the US-Gulf alliance out of the shadows

By Eric Alter

The Iran war is testing whether the informal strategic system the United States has assembled with its Gulf partners and Israel is strong enough to hold up amid a regional conflict.

Defense Policy Iran
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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

Jun 1, 2019

US-China Trade War: Escalation with No End in Sight

Hung Tran The Atlantic Council’s Global Business & Economics Program’s nonresident senior fellow Hung Tran argues that the ratcheting up of US-China trade tensions in May “could begin to fragment the global economy into US- and China-driven global spheres, with potentially huge implications for sustained growth and prosperity for the world.”

China Economy & Business

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Russia’s Crony Capitalism: The Path from Market Economy to Kleptocracy

Anders Aslund This insightful study explores how the economic system Vladimir Putin has developed in Russia works to consolidate control over the country. By appointing his close associates as heads of state enterprises and by giving control of the FSB and the judiciary to his friends from the KGB, he has enriched his business friends […]

Corruption Economy & Business

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Foreign Interference in Ukraine’s Election

Ukraine Election Task Force The Atlantic Council, the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, and the Transatlantic Commission on Election Integrity established the Ukrainian Election Task Force. Working with other Ukrainian institutions—StopFake, Razumkov Centre, and Detector Media—the three partners created a rapid-response team with the ability to monitor, evaluate, and disclose the full range of foreign subversive activities […]

Cybersecurity Disinformation

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Geo-economics: Russia and Iran in Syria

Faysal Itani This article examines two dimensions of a broader analysis of the geo-economics of reconstruction in Syria: the actions of Iran and Russia in the context of their interests and capabilities. The analysis identifies overlaps and conflicts among these interests and examines the larger geo-economic and geo-political implications. A comprehensive survey of Iranian and […]

Economy & Business Iran
eurogrowth

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

European American Chambers of Commerce Delegation Visit

On May 14th, the Global Business & Economics Program’s EuroGrowth Initiative hosted a large delegation of American Chambers of Commerce from Europe to exchange views on transatlantic trade relations. Director Bart Oosterveld, Deputy Director Marie Kasperek, Fellow Hung Tran and Google’s Michele Lynch all participated in the lively conversation.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
alanwolff

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Global Trade Developments and the Future of the World Trade Organization

The Global Business and Economics (GBE) program co-hosted, with the South Asia Center, a discussion with WTO Deputy Director-General Ambassador Alan Wolff. The conversation focused on the latest global trade developments and the future of the WTO. South Asia Center Senior Fellow Mark Linscott moderated the session. In addition, Marie Kasperek, deputy director of the […]

Economy & Business International Financial Institutions

In the News

Jun 1, 2019

Karim Mezran in The Hill: A way forward in Libya

By Karim Mezran

Read More Here

Libya
womeninbanking

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Jun 1, 2019

Giving Credit Where It’s Due: Access to Capital for Women in African Markets

On Thursday, May 16, the Africa Center hosted a public discussion on gendered barriers to raising capital in African markets, and the dearth of female leadership atop private equity and venture capital firms with funds on the African continent. Panelists discussed OPIC’s 2X Women’s Initiative, which has mobilized over $1 billion for women-led businesses, and […]

Africa Economy & Business
drc

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Covert capital: Illicit finance in the DR Congo

On May 22, the Africa Center partnered with The Sentry at the Enough Project to host a public discussion on illicit finance operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), occasioned by the release of the group’s new report, Covert Capital: The Kabila Family’s Secret Investment Bank, which tracks efforts by former President Joseph Kabila […]

Africa Corruption

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Roundtable with Henning Vaglum, Director General for Security Policy at the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defense

On May 2, the Transatlantic Security Initiative hosted a private roundtable with Henning Vaglum, director general for security policy at the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Defense. The session featured keynote remarks by Mr. Vaglum, followed by a moderated conversation led by TSI director Chris Skaluba. Russia’s increased activity in the Arctic and North Atlantic is […]

Defense Policy Defense Technologies
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