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 24, 2015

Healey on Risk Nexus Report

By Jason Healey

The Boston Globe quotes Cyber Statecraft Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Jason Healey on the costs and benefits of the internet and data as reported in the joint Atlantic Council and Zurich Insurance Group study, Risk Nexus: Beyond Data Breaches: Global Interconnections of Cyber Risk:

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

Oct 24, 2015

Pham on Tanzanian Elections

By J. Peter Pham

International Business Times quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the competitive race between John Magufuli and Edward Lowassa for President of Tanzania:

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Pham on Ghana’s Upcoming Election

By J. Peter Pham

Foreign Policy quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the upcoming election in Ghana and concerns that the process is not being conducted fairly:

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Ashooh on Kerry-Lavrov Talks

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh joins Voice of America to discuss what to expect from the talks between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov regarding Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Mezran on the Libyan Peace Process

By Karim Mezran

Al Jazeera quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran on possible scenarios for Libya if no political agreement is reached in the near future: 

Libya

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Alami on the Attack on Aleppo

By Mona Alami

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mona Alami writes for Al-Monitor on the battle for Aleppo and its implications for the Syrian government and military:

Syria

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Itani on Russia and Iran’s Backing of Assad

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani joins Voice of America’s Encounter to discuss the implications of increased Iranian and Russian backing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:

Syria

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Pham on Boko Haram and the US Role in Africa

By J. Peter Pham

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham joins Secure Freedom Radio to discuss Boko Haram and the US role in regional security and military action in Africa:

Africa Nigeria

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Polyakova on Russia’s Sphere of Influence

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova discusses Russia’s sphere of influence and its attempts to continue to maintain a presence in the economics and politics of countries it perceives to be within its sphere:

Russia

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Aslund on Upcoming Elections in Ukraine

By Anders Aslund

Agence France-Presse quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on how public perceptions of persistent corruption in Ukraine may affect voters’ decisions in the upcoming local elections:

Ukraine