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 13, 2015

Itani on Obama’s ISIS Shift

By Faysal Itani

The Daily Beast quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on how President Obama’s tone and rhetoric toward ISIS has shifted over the past year:  

Syria

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Castello-Catchot on Catalonia’s Secession Process

By Carles Castello-Catchot

Brent Scowcroft Center Chief of Staff Carles Castello-Catchot joins Voice of America to discuss the ruling by Spain’s highest court that has temporarily halted Catalonia’s secession process:

Southern & Southeastern Europe

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Al-Hurra News Features Event on Tunisia

By Atlantic Council

Al-Hurra News features the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center event on November 4 with Tunisian Nobel prize winner Hussein Abassi:

North Africa

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Alami on the Structure and Organization of ISIS in Syria

By Mona Alami

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mona Alami writes for Asharq Al-Awsat on the situation for and structure of ISIS in Syria, demonstrating that the organization is facing increased pressure despite its gains: Read the full article here.

Syria

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Linderman on Georgia’s Rustavi 2 Controversy

By Laura Linderman

Georgian News Agency Accent quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Research Fellow Laura Linderman on the Rustavi 2 case, public attitudes towards the ruling Georgian Dream coalition, and the opposition United National Movement:

The Caucasus

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

President Erdogan to Attend Energy & Economic Summit

By Atlantic Council

Anadolu Agency reports that President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend the Atlantic Council’s 2015 Energy & Economic Summit:

Turkey

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Charai: Sahara: The New Order

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai writes for The Huffington Post on France’s role in the protracted political conflict in Western Sahara:

France North & West Africa

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Ricciardone on the Need for a Political Solution in Turkey

By Francis Ricciardone

The Wall Street Journal quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on the need for a political solution to conflict between President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Kurdish militants:

Turkey

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Hof on Protecting Civilians in Syria

By Frederic Hof

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on why protecting Syrians from Assad should be the first step of the US strategy to defeat both Assad and ISIS:

Syria

In the News

Nov 12, 2015

Hof on Syria Talks in Vienna

By Frederic Hof

Bloomberg Business quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the talks in Vienna as the international community convenes to discuss Assad’s control of Syria:

Syria