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 9, 2015

Khan: Bilateral Trade Potential

By Mohsin Khan

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Mohsin Khan writes for The Cipher Brief on the benefits of increased trade between India and Pakistan: 

India Pakistan

In the News

Nov 9, 2015

Hellyer: Egypt Can’t Blame Everyone Else

By H.A. Hellyer

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer writes for Al Arabiya News on Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to the United Kingdom:

North Africa United Kingdom

In the News

Nov 9, 2015

Hellyer on Bahgat Arrest

By H.A. Hellyer

Buzzfeed News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer on the arrest of human rights activist and journalist Hossam Bahgat in Cairo:

North Africa

In the News

Nov 9, 2015

Aslund on Ukraine’s GDP

By Anders Aslund

Reuters quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on Ukraine’s loss of GDP and the need for Western assistance:

Ukraine

In the News

Nov 9, 2015

Charai: The Role of Spain in the Development of the Sahara

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai writes for La Razon on Spanish-Moroccan relations and Spain’s important role in the development of the Western Sahara:

Morocco North & West Africa

In the News

Nov 9, 2015

Ullman: Running Mates: Bush 41 and Bush 43’s Biggest Mistakes?

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International on the impact other vice presidential candidates could have had on either George H.W. Bush or George W. Bush’s presidencies:

In the News

Nov 8, 2015

Slavin: Officials Say New Israeli Rules Slow Aid to Palestinians

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on Israeli restrictions hindering international aid organizations from providing assistance to Palestinians:

Israel Middle East

In the News

Nov 8, 2015

Manning on the China-Taiwan Meeting

By Robert Manning

CNN quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning on the meeting between President Xi Jinping of China and President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan, the first meeting between leaders of the two countries since 1949:

China

In the News

Nov 7, 2015

Ricciardone on Terrorism in Egypt

By Francis Ricciardone

Reuters quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on the support for Egyptian President Sisi’s anti-terrorism campaign: 

North Africa

In the News

Nov 7, 2015

Kempe on the US-Middle East Relationship

By Fred Kempe

The National quotes Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe on the future of the relationship between the United States and the Middle East:

Middle East