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 2, 2015

Hruby on China’s Infrastructure Investments in Africa

By Aubrey Hruby

The Associated Press quotes Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to South Africa and China’s funding of large infrastructure projects in various African countries:

China South Africa

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Hof on the Deployment of US Troops to Fight ISIS in Iraq

By Frederic C. Hof

Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the deployment of US special operation troops to Iraq following the deadly attacks in Paris:

Iraq

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Shaffer on the OPEC Meeting

By Brenda Shaffer

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer joins Knowledge@Wharton to discuss the OPEC meeting and the factors that affect oil prices and production:

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Marczak on Post-Election Tension in Argentina

By Jason Marczak

Fox News Latino quotes Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Deputy Director Jason Marczak on the tension between outgoing President of Argentina Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and President-elect Mauricio Macri:

Latin America

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Slavin: New Report Confirms Iran’s Nuclear Weapons Program

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al-Monitor on the report released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that details Iran’s nuclear weapons program:

Iran

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Slavin: More ‘Special Operators’ Head to Iraq and Syria as Anti-ISIS Coalition Grows

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on President Obama’s decision to send additional Special Forces troops to the Middle East to assist the coalition against ISIS:

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Herbst on Fighting Corruption in Ukraine

By John E. Herbst

Ukrainian State News Agency Ukrinform quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the Ukrainian government’s recent successes in fighting corruption:

Ukraine

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Stern: The Long Road to a Satisfactory TPP

By Paula Stern

Atlantic Council Board Director Paula Stern writes for The Diplomat on the recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the hurdles the trade agreement faces in securing congressional approval:

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

In the News

Dec 2, 2015

Cunningham on Security for Diplomats

By James Cunningham

The Hill quotes Atlantic Council Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan James Cunningham on his experience as ambassador to Afghanistan and the security risks involved and precautions taken by the State Department:

Afghanistan

In the News

Dec 1, 2015

Mezran Reviews North Africa in Transition

By Karim Mezran

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran reviews North Africa in Transition: The Struggle for Democracies and Institutions:

North Africa