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

Aug 25, 2015

Stein on Turkey’s Role in the Syrian Conflict

By Aaron Stein

Business Insider quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on Turkey’s image as nurturing the Islamist side of the Syrian insurgency: 

Syria Turkey

In the News

Aug 25, 2015

Ashooh: Understanding Syrian Mindset Is Key to Redirecting Anti-ISIS Effort

By Jessica Ashooh

Middle East Strategy Task Force Deputy Director Jessica Ashooh writes for The Hill on the dangers of ignoring Assad in the fight against ISIS in Syria:

Syria

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Slavin on the Iran Nuclear Deal and US Opinion

By Barbara Slavin

Heinrich Boll Stifting North America interviews South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin on the Iran nuclear deal debate in the United States: 

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Nawaz on the Death of Mullah Omar

By Shuja Nawaz

The Cipher Brief quotes South Asia Center Distinguished Fellow Shuja Nawaz on the death of Taliban ex-supreme commander and religious leader Mullah Muhammad Omar: 

Afghanistan

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Itani: Lebanon’s ‘Garbage Revolution’ Wants to Trash Dirty Politicians

By Faysal Itani

Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani writes for The Daily Beast on the rise of the “YouStink” movement in the streets of Beirut: 

Middle East

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Aslund on Ukraine’s Economic Reforms

By Anders Aslund

Forbes quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on the impressive implementation of Ukraine’s reforms: 

Ukraine

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Metzl on China’s Market Plunge

By Jamie Metzl

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl joins Bloomberg to discuss the plunge in Chinese equities and what the Chinese government would need to do to stabilize markets:

China

In the News

Aug 24, 2015

Metzl on China’s Stock Market

By Jamie Metzl

US News and World Report quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl on the global impact of China’s falling stock market: 

China

In the News

Aug 23, 2015

Healey on Cyber Espionage

By Jason Healey

The Epoch Times covers the Atlantic Council’s Cyber Risk Wednesday event and quotes Cyber Statecraft Initiative Nonresident Senior Fellow Jason Healey on the informal rules of espionage that evolved during the Cold War and what they mean for today’s cyber espionage:

Cybersecurity Security & Defense

In the News

Aug 23, 2015

Hasik on the US Military’s New Tactical Vehicles

By James Hasik

Defense News quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow James Hasik on what Lockheed Martin could gain if the US Army awards them the contract for the new Joint Light Tactical Vehicles:

Defense Industry Security & Defense