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

Nov 25, 2015

Pham: “Mali Today is as Fragile Today as Before 2012”

By J. Peter Pham

The Washington Post quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the recent attack on a luxury hotel in Mali:

Sahel

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

Marczak on Argentina’s Outgoing President

By Jason Marczak

US News and World Report quote Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Deputy Director Jason Marczak on the next steps for outgoing Argentine president Cristina Fernandez:

Latin America

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

Ricciardone on Russia-Turkey Relations

By Francis Ricciardone

Daily Bash Diplomacy quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on Russian-Turkish relations following the downing of a Russian airplane flying in Turkish airspace: 

Russia Turkey

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

Aslund on Russia-Turkey Relations After Incident

By Anders Aslund

Mashable quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on the expectations of conflict between Russia and Turkey in the midst of the Syrian conflict: 

Russia Turkey

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

Slavin: Christie Bets Fear of Terrorism Will Boost His Chances in 2016

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on how recent attacks in Paris and the Middle East are factoring into the presidential campaign of Governor Chris Christie:

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

McFate on Colombian Mercenaries in Yemen

By Sean McFate

The New York Times quotes Africa Center Senior Fellow Sean McFate on the growing number of Colombian mercenaries sent by the United Arab Emirates to fight in Yemen: 

Colombia Yemen

In the News

Nov 25, 2015

Pham on Chinese Infrastructure Projects in Africa

By J. Peter Pham

Bloomberg Business quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on new Chinese infrastructure projects that will link Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa:

China

In the News

Nov 24, 2015

Manning on a New US Approach for the Middle East

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for Foreign Policy on whether its time for a new US strategy for the Middle East:

In the News

Nov 24, 2015

Pham on China’s New Military Base in Djibouti

By J. Peter Pham

International Business Times quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the first Chinese military base in Africa:

In the News

Nov 24, 2015

Benitez on Turkey’s Downing of Russian Warplane

By Jorge Benitez

The Daily Signal quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow and NATOSource Director Jorge Benitez on the potential international ramifications of Turkey downing a Russian warplane:

Russia Turkey