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

Dec 1, 2016

Quarterman Joins The Diane Rehm Show to Discuss North Dakota Pipeline Protests

By Cynthia Quarterman

Listen to the full discussion here.

In the News

Dec 1, 2016

Hof Joins WNYC to Discuss Aleppo

By Frederic C. Hof

Read the full article here.

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

Khoury Quoted by Associated Press on War Crimes in Yemen

By Nabeel Khoury

Read the full article here.

Yemen

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

Wyne in The Diplomat: China’s Opportunity To Be A Responsible Stakeholder?

By Ali Wyne

Read the full article here.

China

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

Farkas Quoted by The Guardian on US Legislation Trying to Counteract Russian ‘Covert Influence’

By Evelyn Farkas

Read the full article here.

Russia

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

El-Gamal Quoted by POLITICO on Trump’s Attitude Toward Muslims

By Jasmine El-Gamal

Read the full article here.

In the News

Nov 30, 2016

Manning Quoted by UPI on the Implications of the UN Sanctions on North Korea

By Robert A. Manning

Read the full article here.

Korea

In the News

Nov 29, 2016

Schechter Quoted by CNN on US-Cuba Relations Under Trump

By Peter Schechter

Read the full article here.

Cuba

In the News

Nov 29, 2016

Blanford in the Christian Science Monitor, Quoting Itani: With Aleppo Poised to Fall, Syria’s Assad Is Set to Rise

By Nicholas Blanford

Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Nov 29, 2016

Slavin Quoted by The Washington Diplomat on President-elect Donald Trump and the Historic Accord With Iran

By Barbara Slavin

Read the full article here.

Iran