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.

view all Program impact stories

Latest commentary and analysis

AfricaSource

Sep 11, 2026

The US must become Africa’s partner on technology and AI. It can do so with soft power.

By Troy Fitrell and Kathryn Fitrell

The United States’ chief adversary has a soft power strategy. Why doesn’t Washington?

Africa Artificial Intelligence

UkraineAlert

Sep 11, 2026

Ukrainian police are preventing Russia from turning civilians into saboteurs

By Andrii Niebytov, Clara Kaluderovic

Since spring 2024, Russia has been waging a campaign far behind the front lines featuring arson, sabotage, and terrorist attacks using Ukrainians who are recruited online, deceived, and discarded, write Andrii Niebytov and Clara Kaluderovic.

Conflict Infrastructure Protection

Podcast

Sep 10, 2026

The Biollywood Podcast: Virus 32 (2022)

By the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense​

"n this episode of The Biollywood Podcast, the Director of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense at the Atlantic Council, Asha M. George, Associate Director for Research, J.T. O'Brien, Associate Director for Government Relations and Policy, Robert Bradley, and Wendy Villalta, Assistant Director for Operations, discuss the 2022 foreign language film "Virus 32" and its implications for disease outbreaks, transmission, and mutation.

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Latest in-depth research and reports

In-Depth Research & Reports

Sep 11, 2026

Submission to the UN: Advancing the just repatriation of illicit funds 

By Britt Gronemeyer, Celeste Kmiotek

How can the UN and the international community ensure that when illicit funds are seized, victims of the illicit activity benefit? The Atlantic Council's Strategic Litigation Program contributed a brief to the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights with six key recommendations on the subject.

Corruption Financial Crimes & Illicit Trade

Issue Brief

Sep 8, 2026

Turning early alignment into a durable US-Colombia partnership

By Carolina Barco and Kevin Whitaker

One month into President Abelardo de la Espriella’s administration, early alignment with the Trump administration creates an opening to strengthen US-Colombia cooperation on security, trade and investment, regional stability, and Venezuela’s recovery.

Americas Colombia

Report

Sep 8, 2026

Preparing for and countering limited nuclear attacks in East Asia: Guardian Tiger III

By Markus Garlauskas with John Park and Kyoko Imai. Contributors: Andrew Brown and Jonathan Corrado

The risk of North Korea launching a limited nuclear attack will likely increase over the coming decade. The United States and its allies are not preparing adequately to deter and prevail in the face of such nuclear strikes.

Indo-Pacific Korea
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Content

In the News

Jun 11, 2022

Kroenig in Real Clear Defense on military spending and Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Matthew Kroenig on US military spending priorities and how they have shifted following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Jun 11, 2022

Asat participated in Oxford Union Debates on Uyghur mistreatment

By Atlantic Council

China Human Rights

In the News

Jun 10, 2022

Kroenig and Ashford debate US policy toward the Persian Gulf

On June 10, Foreign Policy published its biweekly "It's Debatable" column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and NAEI resident senior fellow Emma Ashford. In their latest column, they debate President Biden's shifting policy toward US Gulf partners as Iran works to build the bomb.

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

In the News

Jun 10, 2022

CBDC Tracker cited in Visa Economic Empowerment Institute report on central banks’ rapid progress towards CBDCs in past few years

Read the full report here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Jun 10, 2022

CBDC Tracker cited in Popular Science on countries exploring CBDCs

Read the full article here.

Caribbean Digital Currencies

In the News

Jun 10, 2022

Mark cited in Australian ABC News on the possibility of US audits on Chinese companies

Read the full article here.

Australia China

In the News

Jun 9, 2022

CBDC Tracker cited in Axios on Bank of Jamaica’s progress towards launching its CBDC

Read the full article here.

Caribbean Digital Currencies

In the News

Jun 9, 2022

Shapiro quoted in The Washington Post on the timing of Biden’s trip to Israel

By Atlantic Council

Israel Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jun 9, 2022

Preble on Net Assessment: Competition in the Pacific

By Atlantic Council

On June 9, Christopher Preble and his co-hosts discussed the Pacific Islands on the Net Assessment podcast. Beijing has sought, but thus far failed, to strike a deal with 10 of the islands. Meanwhile, US leaders are promising to devote more time and attention to the region. What is at stake? Can US leaders deliver […]

Australia China

In the News

Jun 9, 2022

Bociurkiw in CNN Opinion: Why I’m ditching my comfy Canadian lifestyle for Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

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