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

Dec 16, 2015

Hasik on Lockheed Martin’s Defense Contract Litigation

By James Hasik

Washington Business Journal quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Defense James Hasik on Lockheed Martin’s litigation over its loss of a defense contract on production of the next generation of military Humvees:

Defense Industry Security & Defense

In the News

Dec 16, 2015

Cunningham Testifies on US Strategy in Afghanistan

By James Cunningham

Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham testifies before the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the US strategy in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Montanino on the European Economy

By Andrea Montanino

Quotidiano Nazionale – La Nazione quotes Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino on the challenges of European economy and why quantitative easing is not sufficient:

Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Stavridis and Ullman: Needed: A Revolution in US Military Education

By Harlan Ullman

Dean of The Fletcher School and Atlantic Council Board Director Admiral James Stavridis and Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman cowrite for Defense News on the need for military education to transform from a twentieth century model to a twenty-first century model:

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Barno and Bensahel: Ash Carter’s 2015 Letter to Santa

By Barno and Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellows for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel write for War on the Rocks on Secretary of Defense Ash Carter’s 2016 wish list:

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Pavel on the Pentagon’s Military Base Announcement

By Barry Pavel

Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, and Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center Barry Pavel joins Al Jazeera English to discuss the Pentagon’s announcement that it is increasing support for military bases in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to facilitate better coordination in the fight against ISIS:

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Economic Intervention in Ukraine

By Anders Aslund

The Black Sea quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on how the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is affecting Ukraine’s economy and businesses:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Vakhshouri on Iran and Nuclear Weapons

By Sara Vakhshouri

USA Today quotes Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Sara Vakhshouri on the international implications, especially regarding the oil market, of the Iran nuclear deal:  

Iran

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Gold on International Airport Security

By Zack Gold

The Gulf Online quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Zack Gold on airport security measures following the deadly bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt’s Sinai peninsula: 

North Africa Russia

In the News

Dec 15, 2015

Hof on Russian Intervention in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

The New York Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the ineffectiveness of Russia’s warfare strategy in Syria: 

Russia Syria