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 17, 2015

Natural Gas Europe Covers Event on Iran’s Energy Future

By Brenda Shaffer and Barbara Slavin

Natural Gas Europe quotes Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Brenda Shaffer and South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin on the future of gas in Iran after the Iran deal from an Atlantic Council panel discussion on the role of natural gas in Iran’s energy future: 

Iran

In the News

Sep 16, 2015

Herbst on Russia’s Strategy in Ukraine and Syria

By John Herbst

USA Today quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on Russia’s failure to implement the ceasefire in Ukraine and Putin’s military assistance for the Assad regime in Syria:

Russia Syria

In the News

Sep 16, 2015

Slavin: Saudi-Iran Talks Key to Resolving Middle East Wars

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on a panel discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center on Iran’s regional role following the negotiations regarding its nuclear program, quoting Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow for Middle East Security Bilal Y. Saab on anti-Iran sentiment among Arab […]

Iran

In the News

Sep 16, 2015

New Vision Highlights Africa Center Event

By Atlantic Council

New Vision highlights a discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center, moderated by Minister of Foreign Affairs Sam Kuetesa, on the United Nations and Uganda’s role in Africa: 

Africa International Organizations

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Itani on Support for Syrian Insurgents

By Faysal Itani

Vice News quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on international support for the Syrian opposition:

Syria

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Engelke and Sticklor: Water Wars: The Next Great Driver of Global Conflict?

By Peter Engelke

Strategic Foresight Initiative Resident Senior Fellow Peter Engelke and Stimson Environmental Security Program Nonresident Research Fellow Russell Sticklor write for The National Interest on the importance of water in global geopolitics in the twenty-first century: 

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Montanino on Upcoming Greek Elections

By Andrea Montanino

Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino writes for Corriere della Sera on Greece’s upcoming elections and the implications for the bailout program:

Greece

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Fortune Previews Atlantic Council Report on Cyber Futures

By Atlantic Council

FORTUNE previews the recently released report, Overcome by cyber risks? Economic benefits and costs of alternate cyber futures, published in partnership by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security and the Zurich Insurance Group:

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Pham and Polyakova on Guinea and the Far Right’s Rise in Europe

By J. Peter Pham and Alina Polyakova

Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham and Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Associate Director Alina Polyakova join The American Interest podcast to discuss the election in Guinea and the rise of far-right political parties in Europe:

Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Sep 15, 2015

Herbst on the United States-Russia Relationship

By John Herbst

The New York Times quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on the possibility of talks between the United States and Russia to discuss the situation in Syria:

Russia Syria