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


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


Econographics

Jun 18, 2026

For warning signs of the next global financial crisis, watch the activities of both banks and nonbanks

By
Hung Tran

The activities that trigger financial crises can be undertaken by any financial institution, including both banks and nonbanks.


Economy & Business

Latest in-depth research and reports

Content

In the News

Aug 13, 2015

Stein on US Involvement in Syrian ‘Safe Zone’

By Aaron Stein

The Washington Post quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the plan for US involvement or support in the established ISIS-free zone on the Syrian border:

Syria

In the News

Aug 13, 2015

Hof on the Obama Administration’s Assad Position

By Frederic Hof

McClatchy quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof on why the Obama administration still predicts ‘Assad’s days are numbered’:

Syria

In the News

Aug 13, 2015

Itani on US Airstrike in Syria

By Faysal Itani

The Daily Beast quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on the repercussions of the recent US airstrike in Syria which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties:

Syria

In the News

Aug 13, 2015

Slavin: Former US National Security Advisor Endorses Iran Deal

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor on former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft’s endorsement of the Iran nuclear deal:

Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Aug 13, 2015

Metzl on China’s Currency Change

By Jamie Metzl

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl joins CBS News to discuss China devaluing its currency by 2 percent, leading to a drop in the US stock market:

China Economy & Business

In the News

Aug 12, 2015

Pham on Boko Haram’s Leader

By J. Peter Pham

The Los Angeles Times quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on whether Boko Haram’s leader, Abubakar Shekau, is still in charge of the Nigerian terrorist group:

Nigeria

In the News

Aug 12, 2015

Slavin: Republican Supporters of Iran Deal Need to Speak Up

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Voice of America on the need for support from Republican proponents of the Iran deal:

Iran

In the News

Aug 12, 2015

Manning: Iran Deal Heralds Deeper Sino-US Cooperation

By Robert A. Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert A. Manning writes for Global Times on how the nuclear deal with Iran could herald deeper Sino-US cooperation:

China Iran

In the News

Aug 12, 2015

Karatnycky on Ukraine’s Book Ban

By Adrian Karatnycky

Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky joins The Takeaway to discuss Ukraine’s ban on thirty-eight Russian books:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Aug 12, 2015

Schechter on the Politics of the US-Cuba Relationship

By Peter Schechter

The Miami Herald quotes Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center Director Peter Schechter on how US politics could affect the future of US-Cuba relations on everything from an ambassador to trade relations:

Cuba