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 2, 2015

Khan on Emerging Leaders of Pakistan

By Nazia Khan

South Asia Center Assistant Director Nazia Khan joins Voice of America Urdu TV to discuss the Atlantic Council’s Emerging Leaders of Pakistan program:

In the News

Nov 2, 2015

Stein on Turkish Elections

By Aaron Stein

The Christian Science Monitor quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on the voters’ concerns and the ultimate success of Erdogan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP):

Turkey

In the News

Nov 1, 2015

Montanino on Greece Debt Restructuring

By Andrea Montanino

Bloomberg quotes Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino on the International Monetary Fund’s push for debt restructuring in Greece:

Greece

In the News

Nov 1, 2015

Hof on US Special Operations Forces in Syria

By Frederic Hof

Newsmax quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on why President Obama’s decision to send US special operations forces to Syria will not be enough to change the situation significantly:

Syria

In the News

Nov 1, 2015

Jones on Iran and Terrorism

By General James L. Jones Jr.

The National quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Chairman General James L. Jones, Jr. on possibilities for regional corporation against terrorism between Gulf Cooperation Council countries:

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Nov 1, 2015

Stein on President Erdogan

By Aaron Stein

Buzzfeed quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aaron Stein on the implications of President Erdogan and his party’s victory in the recent Turkish elections:

Turkey

In the News

Oct 31, 2015

Hof on Regional Efforts to Solve the Crisis in Syria

By Frederic Hof

Reuters quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on President Obama’s decision to send US special operations forces to Syria, and why it may lead more regional powers to provide on-the-ground assistance:

Syria

In the News

Oct 31, 2015

Hof on Special Operations in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Defense News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the effectiveness of sending US special operations forces to Syria to advise anti-ISIS groups:

Syria

In the News

Oct 31, 2015

Hof on Obama’s Policy in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

The Associated Press quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on President Obama’s announcement to deploy special operations troops to Syria:

Syria

In the News

Oct 31, 2015

Hof on Syria Policy

By Frederic Hof

The Fayo Observer quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the change in the Obama administration’s military policy and action in Syria to combat ISIS:

Syria