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

Latest in-depth research and reports

Report

Sep 23, 2025

The critical minerals boom is an opportunity to integrate public health into mining operations

By Connor Gregory, Ciara M. Weets, and Rebecca Katz

Africa is central to the global push for cleaner energy, including the continent’s stocks of critical minerals that power green-energy technologies. But a race to extract more minerals poses public health risks, from the occupational hazards miners suffer to new disease outbreaks in mining camps. There’s a better course for investors and African governments.

Africa Economy & Business

Report

Sep 23, 2025

Natural gas has a small but important role in Africa’s energy transition

By Neil Ford

Limited access to electricity has long constrained both quality of life and economic growth across much of Africa. About 42 percent of the continent’s population still lives in homes without any access. While it is technically possible to rapidly increase African electrification rates through renewables, change on such a scale would require massive global investment that is not a realistic prospect in the foreseeable future. Africa’s untapped and associated gas reserves can provide part of the solution by supporting renewable energy in boosting electrification rates.

Africa Energy & Environment

Issue Brief

Sep 22, 2025

A three-pillar strategy for US democracy assistance in Central and Eastern Europe

By Stephen Nix and Megan Tamisiea

This paper is the first in the Freedom and Prosperity Center’s “Future of Democracy Assistance” series, which analyzes the many complex challenges to democracy around the world and highlights actionable policies that promote democratic governance.

Central Europe Democratic Transitions

Content

In the News

Jul 20, 2023

Lipner quoted in Jewish Insider on Biden’s conversation with Netanyahu

By Atlantic Council

Israel Middle East

In the News

Jul 20, 2023

Garlauskas in USA Today and The Hill

On July 20, Markus Garlauskas was quoted in USA Today on US soldier Travis King who was detained by North Korea after fleeing across the border from US military law enforcement authorities. On July 18, Garlauskas explained in an article for The Hill that “Unfortunately, U.S. citizens detained in North Korea are typically used by […]

Korea Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 20, 2023

Charai in the National Interest: Israel is Not a Racist State

By Ahmed Charai

Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who chairs the Congressional Progressive Caucus, called Israel a “racist state,” touching off a controversy about America’s views toward the world’s only Jewish state. Ahmed Charai is a Moroccan publisher and an Atlantic Council Board Director. He is also an international counselor of the Center for a Strategic and International Studies, […]

Israel Middle East

In the News

Jul 20, 2023

Doyle and Deni in Defense One on NATO’s defense on the eastern flank

By Gabriela R. A. Doyle, John R. Deni

On July 20, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident fellow Gabriela R. A. Doyle and Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John Deni authored an op-ed in Defense One that examines NATO’s defense on the eastern flank and the improvements needed to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence and force posture.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

Webster in The Interpreter: Why China tripled its heavy truck shipments to Central Asia: Unravelling the influence of Russia’s war in Ukraine

Energy & Environment

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

CBDC tracker cited by Bloomberg on countries pursuing CBDC pilot programs

Read the full article here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

Allen in the Wall Street Journal on US efforts to simultaneously deter Russia and China

On July 18, Michael Allen and Connor Pfeiffer co-authored a Wall Street Journal piece making the case for the United States’ ability to simultaneously counter Russia and China. Citing the US’ strengthened defense industrial base, partly bolstered by the war in Ukraine, the pair contend that the US is equipped to both provide continued support […]

China Defense Technologies

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

Fried quoted by Fox News on Russia sanctions

Read the full article here.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

Kumar interviewed by Bloomberg HT on central bank digital currencies

Watch the full interview here.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy

In the News

Jul 19, 2023

Kumar and CBDC tracker cited by the Observer Research Foundation

Read the full issue brief here.

Digital Currencies Digital Policy