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 13, 2015

Aslund: Germany’s Exports to Russia Have Not Suffered from Western Sanctions

By Anders Aslund

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund writes for German business weekly Capital on why Germany’s share of Russia’s imports has actually increased, despite sanctions: Read the full article here.

Germany Russia

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Stein on Upcoming Elections in Turkey

By Aaron Stein

Agence France-Presse quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on how the deadly bombing in Ankara has raised tensions in advance of the upcoming elections in Turkey in November:

Turkey

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Nordenman and Horrell: Time for a US Maritime Security Strategy for Europe

By Nordenman and Horrell

Brent Scowcroft Center Deputy Director Magnus Nordenman and US Navy Senior Fellow Steven Horrell write for Defense One on why the United States and NATO need a new strategy for the maritime domains around Europe:

NATO Security & Defense

In the News

Oct 13, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Middle East Power Play

By John Herbst

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst joins WBUR’s On Point to discuss Russia’s intervention in Syria and the US response:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Bensahel Addresses Association of the US Army

By Nora Bensahel

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Nora Bensahel speaks on a panel discussion at the Association of the United States Army annual meeting on conventional force-special operations forces interdependence:

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Herbst and Hof on Russia’s Intervention in Syria

By John Herbst and Fred Hof

Defense News quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst and Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on Russia’s intervention in Syria and the recently announced intelligence-sharing agreement between Iran, Syria, and Russia:

Iran Russia

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Fox News Highlights Brent Scowcroft Center Event

By Atlantic Council

Fox News highlights an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security with North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Commander Admiral William Gortney on evolving national security challenges:

Korea

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Manning: Asian Stability Hangs in the Balance of Japan–China Relations

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning cowrites for East Asia Forum on why the future of the Asia-Pacific regional order will be defined by Japan and China’s relationship:

China Japan

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Polyakova: To Kill or Not to Kill: Ukrainians Opt for Nonviolent Civil Resistance

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova cowrites for Political Violence @ a Glance on a recently released survey that shows Ukrainians’ preference for nonviolent resistance over taking up arms in the ongoing conflict in the country:

Ukraine

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Younis: Iraq Should Fear Russia’s Help

By Nussaibah Younis

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Nussaibah Younis writes for the New York Times on why Iraq should be more cautious about accepting assistance from Russia:

Iraq Russia