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

Oct 30, 2015

Slavin on Domestic Politics and China

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Voice of America’s Issues in the News to moderate a discussion on the Syria talks, China, the new Speaker of the House, and the most recent republican presidential debate:

China Syria

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Ashooh on Combating ISIS in Syria

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh joins Voice of America to discuss the US decision to send special operations forces into Syria to combat ISIS:

Syria

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Itani on US Troops in Syria

By Faysal Itani

Vice News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the Obama administration’s decision to send US special operations forces to Syria to combat ISIS:

Syria

In the News

Oct 30, 2015

Hof on Fighting ISIS in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Air Force Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on what would be effective in fighting ISIS in Syria: 

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Itani on Syria’s Absence from Peace Talks

By Faysal Itani

Buzzfeed News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the absence of the Syrian government and opposition from upcoming international peace talks:

Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Ashooh on Iran’s Peace Talks Invite

By Jessica Ashooh

Radio France Internationale quotes Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh on the significance of Iran’s invitation to join the international community in seeking a political solution to the war in Syria:

Iran Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Aslund on the World Bank’s Report on Corruption in Russia

By Anders Aslund

Voice of America quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on why the World Bank’s report does not reflect the corruption in Russia: Read the full article here.

Russia

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Aslund on Russia’s Economy

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund joins Radio Svoboda to discuss how Russia’s economy is still in crisis despite some signs that it has fared better than expected amid falling oil prices and Western sanctions: Listen to the full interview here.

Russia

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Hof on Iran’s Support for Syrian President Assad

By Frederic C. Hof

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Iran’s likely reluctance to support a plan ending with the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

Iran Syria

In the News

Oct 29, 2015

Polyakova on Obama’s Policies on Russia and Ukraine

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova joins Ukraine’s Hromadske TV to discuss how the Obama administration perceives Ukraine and Russia, and how relations may change following the US presidential election in 2016:

Russia Ukraine