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 14, 2015

Stein on the Bombing in Ankara

By Aaron Stein

The Wall Street Journal quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the group responsible for the recent bombing in Ankara and whether they have any connection to the PKK:

Turkey

In the News

Oct 14, 2015

Mezran on Libya Today

By Karim Mezran

The Atlantic quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Karim Mezran on Libya today compared to the expectations of US policymakers around the time of the revolution:

Libya

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Rakisits: A Path to the Sea: China’s Pakistan Plan

By Claude Rakisits

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Claude Rakisits writes for World Affairs Journal on the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which consists of both transportation and energy projects:

China Pakistan

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Engelke on Urbanization as a Business Opportunity

By Peter Engelke

Capital Insights quotes Strategic Foresight Initiative Resident Senior Fellow Peter Engelke on how companies are now seeing increased urbanization as a business opportunity:

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Slavin: Key US Allies Israel and Turkey Face Tough Challenges

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on the new violence facing US allies Israel and Turkey:

Israel Turkey

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Seznec on the Potential for Cooperation Between Iran and Saudi Arabia

By Jean-François Seznec

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Jean-François Seznec speaks with Energy Fuse to discuss his recently released report discussing the potential for Saudi Arabia and Iran to find areas of cooperation on deals in oil and gas:

Energy & Environment Iran

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Pavel on Training of Syrian Rebels

By Barry Pavel

Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, and Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security Barry Pavel joins BBC World News to discuss the Obama administration’s announcement that it was suspending its program to train moderate Syrian rebels to fight ISIS in Syria:

Syria

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Manning: Myths and Realities of the Trans-Pacific Partnership

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for Nikkei Asian Review on the details of the recently negotiated Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP):

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Shaffer: An Exceptional Moment: The Middle East’s Two Current Wars

By Brenda Shaffer

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer writes for Fox News on how developments in the Middle East will add new volatility to the global price of oil:

Energy & Environment Middle East

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

POLITICO Highlights Brent Scowcroft Center Event on NATO’s Role at Sea

By Atlantic Council

POLITICO highlights an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center with Allied Joint Force Command Naples, US Naval Forces Europe, and US Naval Forces Africa Commander Admiral Mark Ferguson on NATO’s role at sea:

NATO Security & Defense