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 12, 2015

Slavin: Former US Ambassador: There Won’t Be Peace in Syria Without Prosecution of Assad

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin writes for Al Monitor, quoting Rafik Hariri Center Resident Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof, on the need to prosecute the Assad regime for its human rights violations in order to attain peace in Syria:

Syria

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Czuperski on MH17

By Maksymilian Czuperski

Special Assistant to the President and CEO Maksymilian Czuperski joins Voice of America Ukraine to discuss MH17 and the potential that fragments from the crash site could be from a Russian-made missile:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Slavin on Iran’s Next Steps

By Barbara Slavin

South Asia Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Barbara Slavin joins Global Ties US to give a webinar on Iran’s next steps:

Iran

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Gramer and Rizzo: China’s Maginot Line

By Robbie Gramer and Rachel Rizzo

Transatlantic Security Initiative Associate Director Robbie Gramer and Brent Scowcroft Center Program Assistant Rachel Rizzo write for War on the Rocks on how China’s nascent military presence in the East China Sea, the Straits of Formosa, and the South China Sea are meant to ensure regional dominance and reduce the US ability to operate in the region:

China

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Montanino on Competition Among International Banks

By Andrea Montanino

Anadolu Agency quotes Global Business and Economics Program Director Andrea Montanino on the heightened competition among international banks in light of the presence of the Asian Infrastructure and Investment Bank (AIIB):

China

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Aslund on Crimea

By Anders Aslund

War on the Rocks cites Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Aslund on his analysis of Russian incursions into Crimea: 

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Seznec on Iran-Saudi Arabia Relations

By Jean-Francois Seznec

The Huffington Post quotes Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Jean-François Seznec on the potential for a thaw in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia as a result of the recently negotiated nuclear deal with Iran and the rise of ISIS:

Iran Saudi Arabia

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Metzl on China’s Currency Devaluation

By Jamie Metzl

Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl joins CNN to discuss the motivations behind China’s currency devaluation:

China

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Ullman: Not Ready for Prime Time

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for United Press International on the first US Republican Presidential debate:

Elections Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

LeBaron on the Iraq War and ISIS

By Richard LeBaron

POLITICO quotes Nonresident Senior Fellow Richard LeBaron on the Iraq War and the rise of ISIS:

Iraq