Insights and impact

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

Issue Brief

Mar 20, 2026

The economic and political traps awaiting aging societies

By Markus Jaeger

Rapidly aging populations and falling birthrates create fiscal and economic headwinds that even advanced economies struggle to manage. Some middle-income countries are approaching the same “demographic cliff” at an even faster clip, while many lower-income countries face the opposite problem. Policymakers in all cases must be prepared to make politically tough decisions—and soon.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

Issue Brief

Mar 20, 2026

Aquatic Tiger: How long-range submarine drones could play a role in a Taiwan conflict

By Markus Garlauskas with contributions from Drew Holliday, Adam Kozloski, Nicholas Takeuchi, and Paul Vebber

Could submarine drones help the United States deter or counter a Chinese attack on Taiwan? The Aquatic Tiger wargame was designed to find out. The Atlantic Council's Indo-Pacific Security Initiative reports on the wargame's findings, with implications for the US government, the defense industry, and more. 

Conflict Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Mar 19, 2026

Federal agencies under pressure need smarter systems, not tougher people

By Caitlin Thompson

Resilience is an important trait for national security practitioners, but it is not a solution for problems with agency and department design. Better systems and strategies can ensure that individuals are fully prepared and ready to respond to crises, rather than consistently under strain.

National Security Resilience

Content

In the News

Jun 24, 2025

Anna Wieslander on Swedish Radio, Studio Ett

On Tuesday, 24 June, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe was interviewed by Swedish Radio, Studio Ett, to discuss the priority topics of the NATO summit in The Hague, and address concerns about a potential U.S. drawdown of its military presence in Europe. “Europe must prepare to take on a significantly larger share of the […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jun 24, 2025

Anna Wieslander interviewed by BBC News

On Tuesday, June 24, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe, was interviewed by BBC News to make breaking news from the NATO Summit in The Hague as allies agreed to spend 5% of GDP on defense by 2035.

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jun 24, 2025

Wieslander on Swedish TV, Aktuellt

On Tuesday, June 24th, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe, appeared on Swedish news program Aktuellt to comment on the NATO summit in The Hague. “Trump is truly the central figure at the meeting and decisive in many ways. The agenda is historically small and narrow, yet what is on the agenda is also historic […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jun 24, 2025

Wieslander interviewed on TV4 Nyhetsmorgon

On Tuesday, June 24, Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe, participated in TV4 Nyhetsmorgon to comment on developments from the NATO summit in The Hague. “This summit is, on the one hand, about having a narrow agenda to limit the opportunities for Trump to act unpredictably. At the same time, it also involves a historic […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jun 23, 2025

Lipsky interviewed on CBC on Trump’s missed G7 meetings

Watch the interview here.

Economy & Business France

In the News

Jun 23, 2025

Lipsky and Chhangani quoted in Gasworld on coordination efforts at the G7 summit

Read the full article here

Economy & Business France

Insights & Impact

Jun 23, 2025

Irdi featured on RAI Radio discussing Israel-Iran implications

By Beniamino Irdi

On June 23, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Beniamino Irdi was featured on RAI Radio 1’s Zapping Program discussing implications of the recent Israel-Iran attacks.

Europe & Eurasia Italian

In the News

Jun 23, 2025

Donovan and Nikoladze cited in CNBC on Chinese oil imports avoiding Western banks

Read the full article here

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jun 23, 2025

Deni and Arick in Stars and Stripes on NATO’s defense investment pledge

By Ryan Arick, John R. Deni

On June 23, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John Deni and associate director Ryan Arick were quoted in Stars and Stripes on NATO’s new defense investment pledge and how the Alliance should consider new expenditures related to defense and security.

In the News

Jun 21, 2025

Rich Outzen joined Strait Talk program on TRT World to talk about the Mideast War

Conflict Middle East