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

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


Econographics

Jun 19, 2026

Central banks can’t afford to keep missing their inflation targets

By
Jack Muldoon

While the Iran war explains the sudden rise in inflation, relying on this excuse obscures that there is potentially a long-term problem central banks will need to confront as they manage the long tail of this crisis.


Economy & Business


Macroeconomics


UkraineAlert

Jun 18, 2026

Putin’s obsession with ‘denazifying’ Ukraine makes peace impossible

By
Peter Dickinson

Putin’s obsession with “denazifying” Ukraine makes a mockery of efforts to portray the Russian invasion as a mere land grab and helps explain why there has been no meaningful progress toward peace despite more than a year of US-led efforts, writes Peter Dickinson.


Conflict


Disinformation


Podcast

Jun 18, 2026

“Shoot everybody”: US contractors in San Diego court

By
Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 16 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Daniel McLaughlin, an international lawyer and Legal Director of the Centre for Justice and Accountability (CJA), a California-based legal nonprofit working on behalf of victims of torture and other atrocity crimes. Daniel and CJA are leading a civil suit in San Diego against a Delaware-registered PMC, Spear Operations Group, for war crimes in Yemen. They represent the Yemeni parliamentarian Anssaf Ali Mayo, who was one of the targets of an alleged hit-squad in Yemen. Daniel talks us through the facts of the case, how it ended up in a California courtroom ten years later, and which US and international laws were ostensibly broken by the PMC. He also argues forcefully that the US government has a duty to regulate how former members of its military use their training and know-how.


Middle East


Rule of Law

Latest in-depth research and reports

Content

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Saab on Syria Peace Process amid Iran-Saudi Arabia Tensions

By Bilal Y. Saab

Aljazeera America quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab on how tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran are complicating the Syria peace process:

Iran Saudi Arabia

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Bruton on al-Shabaab

By Bronwyn Burton

Africa Center Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton joins CCTV America to discuss al-Shabaab’s activities in East Africa:

East Africa

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Metzl on China’s Recent Stock Market Shock

By Jamie Metzl

NPR interviews Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl on the global consequences of China’s recent stock market shock:

China

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Metzl on China Stock Market Crash

By Jamie Metzl

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl joins CNN to discuss the various issues that may have led to China’s stock market crash and its consequences for global currency markets:

China

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Montanino on Greece and the Eurozone

By Andrea Montanino

POLITICO quotes Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino on Greece’s economic volatility in relation to the Eurozone:

European Union Greece

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Hellyer: Group with ‘Hate in their Hearts’ Gains Traction

By H.A. Hellyer

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer writes for The National on the second launch for the UK branch of Pediga, the anti-Muslim group, and its leading members:

United Kingdom

In the News

Jan 7, 2016

Mezran on the ISIS Oil Trade in Libya

By Karim Mezran

International Business Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran on ISIS’ ability to obtain and sell oil from Libya:

Libya

In the News

Jan 6, 2016

Lilley: Book Review: Boko Haram: Nigeria’s Islamist Insurgency by Virginia Comolli

By Kelsey Lilley

Africa Center Associate Director Kelsey Lilley writes a book review for The Journal of the Middle East and Africa on Boko Haram: Nigeria’s Islamist Insurgency by Virginia Comolli:

Nigeria

In the News

Jan 6, 2016

Bryza on Growing Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran

By Matthew Bryza

Vestnik Kavkaza quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Matthew Bryza on the growing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia:

Iran Saudi Arabia

In the News

Jan 6, 2016

Ullman on Domestic Terrorism in the United States

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman joins the Tipping Point with Liz Wheeler to discuss growing fears of domestic terrorism in the United States: