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.

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

Explore the podcast series

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.

Latest commentary and analysis

Latest in-depth research and reports


Issue Brief

Aug 20, 2025

Why the rule of law is the key to prosperity: Lessons from thirty years of data 

By
Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee, Joseph Lemoine

Thirty years of global data point to one conclusion: the rule of law is the most important driver of prosperity. Strong legal systems foster trust, investment, and stability. Where laws are predictable and applied equally, societies thrive; where they weaken, reforms falter and prosperity stalls.

Africa
Freedom and Prosperity


Issue Brief

Aug 19, 2025

A vision for US hypersonic weapons

By
Edward Brady and Michael E. White

Hypersonic weapons, if fielded in sufficient numbers to defeat critical targets necessary to degrade adversary capabilities, will enable effective use of traditional weapon systems and allow for future battlefield dominance. A layered defeat construct must be deployed to defend against ballistic and hypersonic missiles targeting US assets.

China
Defense Industry


Issue Brief

Aug 15, 2025

The future of US and Japanese engagement with Central Asia

By
Kyoko Imai

Situated between China and Russia, and with an abundance of vital natural resources, Central Asia is an area of strategic interest for Tokyo and Washington. Beijing and Moscow currently enjoy overwhelming political, economic, and cultural influence, which limits other countries’ ability to constructively shape the region. Some friction has emerged between the two authoritarian powers as post-Soviet dominance over Central Asia erodes and Chinese economic influence takes its place.

Central Asia
China

Content

In the News

May 21, 2018

Stein in War on the Rocks: What’s the Matter in Manbij? How an Obscure Syrian Town Could Determine the Future of the U.S.-Turkish Alliance and What to Do About It

By Aaron Stein

Read the full article here

Syria

In the News

May 21, 2018

Oosterveld and Morales Salto-Weis in MarketWatch: Will Italy’s Next Government Try to Pull it Out of the Euro?

By Bart Oosterveld

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Italy

In the News

May 20, 2018

Ellinas in Cyprus Mail: Promoting Gas as a Catalyst to Energy Transformation

By Charles Ellinas

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Southern & Southeastern Europe

In the News

May 20, 2018

Alfoneh in The Arab Weekly: Tehran Alarmed by Iraqi Nationalism

By Ali Alfoneh

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Iran Iraq

In the News

May 20, 2018

Alfoneh in The Arab Weekly: Iranian Foreign Minister’s Nuclear Diplomacy Faces Limits

By Ali Alfoneh

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Iran

In the News

May 20, 2018

Alfoneh in the Arab Weekly: Tehran alarmed by Iraqi nationalism

By Ali Alfoneh

Read the full article here.

Iran Iraq

In the News

May 20, 2018

Alfoneh in the Arab Weekly: Iranian foreign minister’s nuclear diplomacy faces limits

By Ali Alfoneh

Read the full article here.

Iran

In the News

May 20, 2018

Alami in the Arab Weekly: Lebanon: New government, same choices

By Mona Alami

Read the full article here.

Middle East

In the News

May 20, 2018

Brandenburg Quoted in The Arab Weekly on Sadr’s Win in Iraq

By Rachel Brandenburg

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Iraq

In the News

May 19, 2018

Manning Quoted in The Hill on Kim Jong Un’s Power Plays

By Robert A. Manning

Read the full article here

Korea