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.

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Featured content

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

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Explore the podcast series

NATO 20/2020 Podcast

NATO 20/2020 is a weekly podcast that explores 20 bold ideas to push NATO to be more visionary, more capable, and more self-evidently valuable to the security of more people.

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.

Artwork by Peter Kuper

In the News

Dec 17, 2020

The Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center partners with LEADERS Magazine to dedicate an entire issue to resilience

For its Fall/Winter issue of 2020, LEADERS Magazine, asked the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center to produce an issue dedicated to resilience. The Resilience Issue assembles a broad range of global thought leaders and experts who are currently tackling the challenges and crises facing the world from different perspectives.

Insights & Impact

Mar 3, 2020

Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus

By Atlantic Council

On February 11, 2020 the DFRLab hosted "Peering Around the Corner: The Geopolitics of Coronavirus," a timely series of panels on the potential geopolitical and economic consequences of Coronavirus, and how misinformation about the crisis may influence its impact.

China Disinformation

Program Impact Story

Feb 6, 2020

US energy priorities abroad: A conversation with US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette

By Global Energy Center

On Friday, February 7, 2020, the Atlantic Council hosted newly appointed US Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette for a public address and moderated discussion about US government energy priorities abroad.

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Latest commentary and analysis

UkraineAlert

Apr 30, 2026

Zelenskyy refuses Russian demands to surrender Ukraine’s vital fortress belt

By Marc Goedemans

Ukraine rejects Russian demands to withdraw from northern Donetsk province as part of a peace deal and insists the region's fortress belt is absolutely indispensable for the defense of the country as a whole, writes Marc Goedemans.

Conflict Defense Policy

EnergySource

Apr 30, 2026

Breaking with OPEC, the UAE is now a free agent. What this means for markets and regional unity

By Ellen Wald

The UAE's departure from OPEC will both impact oil markets and mark a significant historic shift for the region.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Econographics

Apr 29, 2026

What swap, Gulf?

By Charles Lichfield and Maxamillian Rajaobelina-Phipps

Amidst the chaos of the conflict in the Middle East, there’s been a buzz around offering dollar currency swaps to allies. Those have traditionally been the territory of central banks, but this time around, Treasury is taking the lead.

Economy & Business
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

Apr 30, 2026

How Colombia can reduce security threats ahead of its presidential election

By the US–Colombia Strategic Alignment Coalition

Though Colombia's recent legislative elections were largely peaceful, the security environment has worsened in recent weeks amid death threats against candidates and escalating violence by armed groups. The upcoming weeks present a narrow, but critical, window to reduce risks ahead of the May 31 presidential election.

Americas Civil Society

Issue Brief

Apr 29, 2026

Does liberal democracy drive inequalities?

By Yi Zhou

There has been much debate about the relationship between liberal democracy and social and economic inequality, but data shows that free societies remain more equal than their less free counterparts.

Freedom and Prosperity Inclusive Growth

Issue Brief

Apr 29, 2026

How information and communication technologies can empower women in Senegal

By Aminata Niang

Data and interview results show how information and communication technologies are empowering women in Senegal's informal economy.

Africa Freedom and Prosperity
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Content

In the News

May 19, 2022

Katz quoted in Arab News on overlapping interests between Russia and authoritarian leaders in the Middle East

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Corruption

In the News

May 19, 2022

Konaev in Washington Post on assessing Ukraine’s military

By Atlantic Council

Margarita Konaev argues that the US military had better assessments of the capabilities of Ukraine's military as they trained them.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

May 19, 2022

Hindrén in Breaking Defense: What Finland will bring to NATO – and how it might change the alliance

By Rasmus Hindrén

Rasmus Hindrén writes that while the public has been focused on whether Finland will join NATO. there are five key areas to watch if it does

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

In the News

May 18, 2022

Assistant Director Niels Graham quoted in World Trade Online on IPEF

By Niels Graham

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

May 18, 2022

Khoury in Reuters: Time is running out to avert yet further catastrophic famine in Yemen

By Atlantic Council

Crisis Management Middle East

In the News

May 18, 2022

Nawaz with USIP: Enhancing Strategic Stability in Southern Asia

By Atlantic Council

Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 18, 2022

Dr Shahid on the Sri Lanka crisis

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

In the News

May 18, 2022

Amb Samad in Policy Magazine: Chaos Fatigue and the End of the Taliban Honeymoon

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 18, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Washington Post on Swedish and Finnish NATO applications

“This is an extraordinary development given where we were in February,” said Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council think tank. “Russia wanted to turn back time, to go back to the Cold War, to fragment and weaken the West,” she continued. “Now, in May, we are here.”

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 17, 2022

Iran Initiative event on the Taliban was mentioned in Politico’s National Security Daily newsletter

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan Extremism
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