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 11, 2015

Eljarh: Qaddafi Supporters Re-emerge in a Disillusioned Libya

By Mohamed Eljarh

Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Mohamed Eljarh writes for Foreign Policy on why the trials of former members of the Qaddafi regime mark another missed opportunity for justice in Libya:

Libya

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Hausheer Ali on Saudi Women in the Workforce

By Stefanie Hausheer Ali

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Associate Director Stefanie Hausheer Ali on how the changing economic situation in Saudi Arabia is driving more women into the workforce:

Saudi Arabia

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Mardini on Iraqi Parliamentary Reforms

By Ramzy Mardini

The Financial Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the parliamentary reforms proposed by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi designed to counter corruption in the government:

Iraq

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Mardini on Iraq’s Political Reforms

By Ramzy Mardini

The New York Times quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the Iraqi parliament’s vote on anti-corruption measures and the potential for unintended consequences:

Iraq

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Ricciardone on Turkey’s Role in the Fight against ISIS

By Francis Ricciardone

Vice President and Rafik Hariri Center Director Francis Ricciardone joins CNN to discuss Turkey’s role in the fight against ISIS and its recent attacks on Kurdish positions in Iraq:

Turkey

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Stein on al-Nusra Withdrawal

By Aaron Stein

Agence France-Presse quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Aaron Stein on the decision of al-Qaeda’s Syria affiliate al-Nusra to withdraw from the fight against ISIS, in light of the US-Turkish efforts to create an ISIS-free zone on the Syrian border:

Syria Turkey

In the News

Aug 11, 2015

Manning and Burrows: Will an Inverted US-China-Russia Triangle Reshape World Order?

By Mathew J. Burrows and Robert A. Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert A. Manning and Strategic Foresight Initiative Director Mathew J. Burrows write for Nikkei Asian Review on how a changing balance between the United States, Russia, and China is reshaping the world order:

China Russia

In the News

Aug 10, 2015

Åslund on Ukraine’s Economy

By Anders Aslund

Lithuanian Verslo Zinios quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Resident Senior Fellow Anders Åslund on the state of Ukraine’s economy:

Ukraine

In the News

Aug 10, 2015

Ullman: Smallest Army and Navy Since Before World War II: So What?

By Harlan Ullman

Atlantic Council Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for Defense News on the continued strength of the US military, despite cuts to active duty Army and Navy forces:

In the News

Aug 10, 2015

Riley and Karatnycky: If Minsk Fails, Let Moscow Pay

By Alan Riley and Adrian Karatnycky

Global Energy Center Nonresident Senior Fellow Alan Riley and Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky write for POLITICO Europe on why Russia should be declared the occupying power in Ukraine, and should be made financially accountable for the rebel enclave:

Russia Ukraine