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 3, 2015

Barno and Bensahel: The Pink Flamingo on the Subcontinent: Nuclear War Between India and Pakistan

By Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellows for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Dave Barno and Nora Bensahel cowrite for War on the Rocks on the tensions on the border of India and Pakistan:

India Pakistan

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Ricciardone on Turkey’s Elections

By Francis Ricciardone

The Daily Sabah quotes Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone on the outcome of the recent election in Turkey and the implications for how Turkey will solve some of its most pressing issues in the future:

Turkey

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Hellyer on President Sisi’s UK Visit

By H.A. Hellyer

The Guardian quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow H.A. Hellyer on the current nature of the UK-Egypt relationship and possible impact of Egyptian President Sisi’s visit to London:

North Africa United Kingdom

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Blanford: How Much Does Russia Care about Hezbollah?

By Nicholas Blanford

Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Blanford writes for NOW. on Russia and Iran’s cooperation in Syria, and how that has affected Russia’s relationship with Israel:

Iran Israel

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Stein on Changing the Turkish Constitution

By Aaron Stein

The World Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on the AKP’s desire to change the presidential system in a change to the constitution:

Turkey

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Bruton on Ethiopia’s Counterterrorism Efforts

By Bronwyn Bruton

OZY quotes Africa Center Deputy Director Bronwyn Bruton on Ethiopia’s counterrrorism efforts and how its tactics could actually push individuals toward extremists: 

Ethiopia

In the News

Nov 3, 2015

Cohen on a Cold War 2.0

By Ariel Cohen

The Jerusalem Post interviews Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen on the consequences of Russia’s attempts to establish a security belt from Iraq to the Mediterranean:

Russia

In the News

Nov 2, 2015

Slavin: How to Get Iran to Improve Its Human Rights

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on human rights in Iran and the recently negotiated nuclear deal:

Iran

In the News

Nov 2, 2015

Mezran on Terrorism in Tunisia

By Karim Mezran

Vice quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran on Tunisia’s plan to build a wall on their border with Libya to prevent terrorism and smuggling of goods: 

North Africa

In the News

Nov 2, 2015

Stein on the AKP’s Win in Turkey

By Aaron Stein

Business Insider UK quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the win of President Recep Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Turkey’s elections:

Turkey