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 15, 2015

Ward on Troops in Afghanistan

By Alex Ward

Brent Scowcroft Center Associate Director Alex Ward joins Al Jazeera America to discuss President Obama’s decision to leave some troops in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Cohen: War in Syria: Time for America to Get Tough on Russia

By Ariel Cohen

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center and Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen writes for The National Interest on the potential confrontation between Russia and the United States over Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Vakhshouri on Iranian Oil Markets

By Sara Vakhshouri

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Sara Vakhshouri joins Real Clear Energy to discuss the influence of Iranian exports on the world price of oil after sanctions have been lifted: Watch the full interview here.

Iran

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

New York Magazine Features Report on US Role in Afghanistan

By James B. Cunningham

New York Magazine features a recently released report by Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham discussing why the US force levels in Afghanistan should be maintained close to current levels:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Christian Science Monitor Features Report on US Troops in Afghanistan

By James B. Cunningham

The Christian Science Monitor features a recently released report by Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham, also a former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, arguing for US-led forces in Afghanistan to be kept around their current levels:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Politico Features Report on US Troops in Afghanistan

By James B. Cunningham

Politico features a recently released report by Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham, outlining why the United States and NATO should maintain troops levels in Afghanistan around current levels: 

Afghanistan NATO

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Cunningham on US Forces in Afghanistan

By James Cunningham

The Washington Post quotes Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham on the debate surrounding whether US forces should be maintained in Afghanistan at current levels:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Cunningham on US Troops in Afghanistan

By James Cunningham

Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham joins NPR to discuss the implications of President Obama’s decision to leave a large presence of troops in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Slavin: Is It Time for a Surge in Syria?

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al-Monitor on the ISIS War Game hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and quotes Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, and Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center Barry Pavel, Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Resident Senior Fellow Bilal Y. Saab, and Rafik […]

In the News

Oct 15, 2015

Cunningham on Obama’s Decision on US Troops in Afghanistan

By James Cunningham

Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and Resident Senior Fellow James B. Cunningham joins MSNBC to discuss President Obama’s announcement that he will be keeping 5,500 US troops in Afghanistan through 2016:

Afghanistan