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 19, 2015

Hof on US Policy and the Crisis in Syria

By Frederic C. Hof

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on the Obama administration’s policy in Syria: 

Syria

In the News

Sep 19, 2015

Seeking Alpha Reviews The Next Africa

By Aubrey Hruby

Seeking Alpha reviews Africa Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Aubrey Hruby and coauthor Jake Bright’s book The Next Africa: An Emerging Continent Becomes a Global Powerhouse: 

Africa

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Polyakova: Is European Integration Causing Europe to Become More Nationalist?

By Alina Polyakova

Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova cowrites for the Journal of European Public Policy on whether the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009 affected European views on nationalist identity:

European Union International Organizations

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Manning on the US Crude Oil Export Ban

By Robert Manning

Anadolu Agency quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning on why the US crude oil export ban should be lifted:

Energy & Environment United States and Canada

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Schechter on Commercial Relations Between the United States and Cuba

By Peter Schechter

The Los Angeles Times quotes Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Director Peter Schechter on the US-Cuba diplomatic and economic opening:

Cuba

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Marczak on US Investments in Cuba

By Jason Marczak

The Sun Sentinel quotes Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Deputy Director Jason Marczak on the complications that remain for US companies looking to invest in Cuba:

Cuba

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Reuters Highlights Event on Chinese Currency in Today’s Markets

By Atlantic Council

Reuters highlights a panel discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Global Business and Economics Program on the internalization of Chinese currency in today’s volatile markets: 

China

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Montanino: Greece’s Election and the Future of the Bailout Program

By Andrea Montanino

Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino writes for The Hill on what Sunday’s election in Greece means for its bailout program:

Greece

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Piiparinen: The Chinese Cyber Threat in the South China Sea

By Anni Piiparinen

Cyber Statecraft Initiative Program Assistant Anni Piiparinen writes for The Diplomat on why the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) needs to get serious about the role of cyberspace in conflicts over the South China Sea:

China

In the News

Sep 18, 2015

Blanford: Russia and Iran Both Propping Up Assad. A Balancing Act?

By Nicholas Blanford

Middle East Peace and Security Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Nicholas Blanford writes for the Christian Science Monitor on Russian and Iranian influence in Syria, quoting Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on Russia’s motivations for intervention in the conflict:

Iran Russia