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 4, 2015

Barno and Bensahel: Shattering the Military’s Glass Ceiling

By Barno and Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellows for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel cowrite for The Atlantic on Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s long-overdue announcement that all jobs in the US military will now be open to women:

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Hruby: Why China’s Role in Africa Isn’t as Dominant as You Think

By Aubrey Hruby

Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby cowrites for the Washington Post on the debate surrounding the Chinese economic impact in Africa:

Africa China

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Aslund on President Putin’s State of the Nation Address

By Anders Aslund

Mashable quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on how Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to frame his dicussion of Russia’s economic situation in his upcoming state of the nation address:

Russia

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Economic Policies

By Anders Aslund

Anadolu Agency quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on why Russia’s economic policies could lead to economic problems in the future:

Russia

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Pham: “The Main Peace Keepers Have Been Religious Leaders”

By J. Peter Pham

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham joins Voice of America’s Encounter to discuss the Pope’s visit to Africa, elections in Burkina Faso, and violent extremism in Mali and Nigeria:

Africa

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Herbst on Biden’s Visit to Ukraine

By John Herbst

Ukraine’s Den quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on how Vice President Joe Biden’s planned visit to Ukraine shows President Obama’s continuing support for Ukraine:

Ukraine

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Slavin on Paris Climate Conference and Syria

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to moderate a discussion on the climate conference in Paris, ISIS and Syria, and the Iran nuclear report: 

France Iran

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Reuters Highlights Event on Airpower

By Brent Scowcroft Center

Reuters highlights an event with General Mark Welsh III about the future of American airpower:

In the News

Dec 4, 2015

Itani on Syrian Rebel Forces

By Faysal Itani

McClatchy DC quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the Obama administration’s decision-making process in deciding which Syrian rebel militias are acceptable partners:

Syria

In the News

Dec 3, 2015

Stein on Turkey’s ISIS Oil Trade Crackdown

By Aaron Stein

RFE/RL quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on Turkey’s attempts to crackdown on the ISIS oil trade:

Turkey