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 6, 2015

Hof on Russian Motives in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Hurriyet Daily News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the reason why Russia is targeting certain groups with airstrikes in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Tothova Jordan on Transatlantic Data Pact

By Klara Tothova Jordan

Brent Scowcroft Center Associate Director Klara Tothova Jordan joins BBC World to discuss the decision by the European Union’s highest court to strike down the transatlantic data pact:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Cohen on Russian Airstrikes and Putin’s UN Address

By Ariel Cohen

Global Energy Center and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Ariel Cohen joins 1+1 TV Ukraine for two segments discussing Russian airstrikes in Syria and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s address to the United Nations General Assembly:

Russia Syria

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Herbst on European Perspectives on the Ukraine Conflict

By John Herbst

Den quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on Russian, French, and German stances on the conflict in Ukraine after their meeting in Paris:

Ukraine

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Pavel and Engelke: US Strategy in a New Geopolitical Age

By Pavel and Engelke

Vice President, Arnold Kanter Chair, and Director of the Brent Scowcroft Center Barry Pavel and Strategic Foresight Initiative Resident Senior Fellow Peter Engelke cowrite for the Journal of Investment Consulting on the need for US leadership and strategic thinking: Read the full article here.

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Blanford: Reports of Hezbollah Armored Brigade Underline Its Combat Evolution in Syria

By Nicholas Blanford

Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Blanford writes for IHS Jane’s on reports that the Syrian government has given seventy-five tanks to Hezbollah to use against anti-government militant groups:

Syria

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Cunningham on Hospital Bombing in Afghanistan

By James Cunningham

Zalmay Khalilzad Chair on Afghanistan and former US Ambassador to Afghanistan James B. Cunningham joins KCBS News Radio San Francisco to discuss the fallout from General John Campbell’s testimony that the air strike that hit a hospital in Kunduz, Afghanistan was a mistake. See more at KCBS.com:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Bensahel on the United States in Afghanistan

By Nora Bensahel

CNN quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Military Affairs and National Security Policy Nora Bensahel on whether President Obama will decide to keep or not to keep US forces in Afghanistan:

Afghanistan

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Slavin: Saudi Prince Alleges Capture of Iranian Military, Hezbollah in Yemen

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on the desire of Saudi Arabia to take more of leadership role in the Middle East:

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Oct 6, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Syria Push

By John Herbst

Fox News quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on US responses to Russia’s moves in Syria and Ukraine:

Russia Syria