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

Sep 25, 2015

Aslund on Putin at the United Nations

By Anders Aslund

Radio Free Europe quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech to the UN General Assembly:

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Sep 25, 2015

Slavin: Rouhani Blasts Saudi ‘Ineptitude’ for Hajj Tragedy

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s views on the country’s relations with Saudi Arabia, the United States, Russia, and Syria:

Iran

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Burwell: European Union Lacks Authority on Refugee Crisis

By Frances Burwell

The Associated Press quotes Vice President for European Union and Special Initiatives Frances G. Burwell on the European Union’s approach to the Syrian refugee crisis:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Saab: The UAE’s Bold Choice in Yemen

By Bilal Saab

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab writes for Newsweek on the pitfalls of the United Arab Emirates’ intervention in Yemen:

The Gulf

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Slavin: Rouhani Wins on Nuclear Deal, Struggles on Human Rights

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on Iran’s ongoing struggles with human rights, despite progress with negotiations over its nuclear program:

Iran

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Cole on Chinese-American Relations

By August Cole

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow August Cole joins WBUR’s On Point with Tom Ashbrook to discuss Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States:

China

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Tanchum: Turkmenistan Pushes Ahead on TAPI Pipelines

By Micha'el Tanchum

Eurasian Energy Futures Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Micha’el Tanchum writes for The Diplomat on Turkmenistan’s hopes to outpace post-sanctions Iran by pushing forward with the TAPI natural gas pipeline:

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Healey on Silicon Valley and President Xi’s Visit

By Jason Healey

The Hill quotes Cyber Statecraft Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Jason Healey on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the China-US tech summit in Seattle, and why many Silicon Valley executives felt pressured to attend:

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Sep 23, 2015

Polyakova on the Blockade Into Crimea

By Alina Polyakova

USA Today quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova on how the blockade against truck traffic into Crimea enacted by ethnic Tatars and members of a Ukrainian extremist group will affect relations between Ukraine and Russia:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Sep 22, 2015

Cliff: China’s Military: Mighty Dragon or Paper Tiger?

By Roger Cliff

Asia Security Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Roger Cliff writes for The National Interest on the strengths and weaknesses of the People’s Liberation Army:

China