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

Content

In the News

Mar 28, 2025

Chiang, Esper, and Fox published in DefenseNews and C4ISRNET on software-defined warfare

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Mung Chiang, Mark Esper, and Christine Fox published an op-ed highlighting key ideas from the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 28, 2025

ExecutiveGov reports on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Jane Edwards of ExecutiveGov published an article highlighting the key recommendations from the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

Op-Ed

Mar 27, 2025

Ullman in the Hill on the economic and political impacts of Trump’s tariff policy   

On March 24, 2025, Atlantic Council Senior Advisor Harlan Ullman published an op-ed in the Hill cautioning against implementing tariffs ahead of the Trump administration’s announcement of the April 2 effective date. He argues that tariffs may have unintended consequences for US political and economic interests.  

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Mar 27, 2025

Breaking Defense reports on the Commission of Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 27, Carly Welch of Breaking Defense published an article featuring key recommendations made in the final report of Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 27, 2025

Soofer featured in Brookings report titled, “An Iron Dome for America?”

By Atlantic Council

On March 25, Forward Defense senior fellow Robert Soofer was quoted in a Brookings report entitled, “An Iron Dome for America?” The article features insights from Soofer’s recent report, “‘First, we will defend the homeland’: The case for homeland missile defense.” Brookings author Michael E. O’Hanlon argues that Soofer’s proposal offers a more realistic alternative to Trump’s ambitious “Golden Dome” vision, suggesting […]

China Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

Michta published in 19FortyFive on uncertainty around NATO’s future and US strategy

On March 26, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article in 19FortyFive on how the Trump administration’s transatlantic policy could fundamentally alter NATO. He argues that closer relations between Washington and Moscow “risks undoing the last eighty years of US national security strategy” in Europe.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

Inside Defense reports on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Theresa Maher of Inside Defense published an article highlighting the key recommendations from Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

Cartwright and Kandasamy in COTS Journal on the Commission on Software-Defined Warfare

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, COTS Journal published an article by Gen James “Hoss” Cartwright, USMC (ret.) and Jags Kandasamy, Commissioners on Forward Defense’s Commission on Software-Defined Warfare, highlighting key recommendations from the Commission’s final report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

DefenseNews reports on Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Courtney Albon of DefenseNews published an article analyzing the defense industry’s response to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent directive on software acquisition, highlighting Forward Defense's Commission on Software-Defined Warfare report as a key framework for understanding the broader reforms required.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

Exclusive on Atlantic Council Commission on Software-Defined Warfare final report published in Axios

By Atlantic Council

On March 26, Colin Demarest of Axios published an exclusive on the Pentagon's software-hardware balance and featured Forward Defense's Commision on Software-Defined Warfare report.

Artificial Intelligence Defense Industry