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

GeoTech Cues

May 21, 2026

Europe must address the ‘digital sovereignty triad’

By Trevor H. Rudolph

As part of its Tech Sovereignty Package, the EU is developing its own definition of digital sovereignty. But a fundamental question will likely remain: how can the bloc balance control over data, legal authority, and vendor independence while maintaining openness to global technology partners and preserving digital resilience?

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

EconoGraphics

May 21, 2026

Energy Sanctions Dashboard: October 2025

The October 2025 edition of the Energy Sanctions Dashboard analyzed China’s central role in the market for sanctioned oil and the techniques Russia, Iran, and Venezuela use to evade sanctions on oil.

Africa China

Econographics

May 20, 2026

The global push for local-currency cross-border payments is intensifying

By Hung Tran

More than one hundred countries now operate instant payment systems, and growing efforts to link them are reshaping how cross-border transactions get settled in local currencies.

Digital Currencies Dollar Dominance
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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
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Content

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

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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
mickmulroy

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

Private Roundtable on Iraq with DASD Mick Mulroy

On May 7, the Iraq Initiative hosted Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Michael “Mick” Mulroy for a private, off-the-record discussion on Iraq. Middle East Programs Director William F. Wechsler moderated the conversation.

Iraq Middle East
euelections

Insights & Impact

Jun 1, 2019

EU Elections 2019: The Future of the European Project

On May 29, the Future Europe Initiative partnered with the Delegation of the European Union to the United States to facilitate a discussion on the results and implications of the 2019 EU Elections. This event featured an address by Antoine Ripoll, the Director of the EU Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, followed by a panel […]

Elections Europe & Eurasia
secarmy

Emerging Defense Challenges

Jun 1, 2019

The future of the Army in great-power competition

By Atlantic Council

On May 17, 2019, Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper joined us to discuss “The Future of the Army in Great-Power Competition.” This event was part of the Commanders Series, which is the Atlantic Council’s flagship speakers’ forum for senior military and defense leaders. In both his keynote speech and his conversation with Defense […]

Defense Industry Defense Policy
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