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

Podcast

May 1, 2026

The IEA’s Fatih Birol on ‘the greatest energy security threat in history’

By The Atlantic Council

The war in Iran continues with no clear end in sight, fueling economic turbulence and concerns of a global energy crisis. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol spoke at an AC Front Page event on April 13th, and argued the conflict is the greatest energy security threat in history. He warned that oil prices will soon “converge” with the on-the-ground reality, knocking the global economy further into disarray.

Economy & Business European Union

AfricaSource

May 1, 2026

What can save Mali from collapse?

By Hussein Ba and Rama Yade

The security situation in Mali is becoming critical in the wake of a large-scale, coordinated series of attacks across multiple cities on April 25.

Extremism North & West Africa

UkraineAlert

May 1, 2026

Europe needs Ukraine as it looks to counter growing Russian threat

By Zahar Hryniv

More than a year since Trump returned to the White House, it is clear that Europe needs to develop its own strategic vision for the continent’s defense. It is equally apparent that Ukraine must be central to this vision, writes Zahar Hryniv.

Conflict Defense Industry
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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

Apr 2, 2022

Friedlander cited in the Economist on illegal oil shipments as a means of sanctions evasion

Read the full article here.

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

Friedlander interviewed in Voice of America (VOA) on Western sanctions on Russia

Listen to the full interview here.

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

Fontenrose in Defense News: Turkish drones won’t give Ukraine the edge it needs

By Atlantic Council

Arms Control Crisis Management

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

Grieco in the Washington Examiner and Colorado Springs Gazette: Confusion about Biden’s Russia-Ukraine comments lingers

By Atlantic Council

On April 1, Kelly Grieco was quoted in Washington Examiner and Colorado Springs Gazette articles about the confusion over Biden’s comments on the Russia-Ukraine war.  “‘There’s a little bit of tension between the strategic imperative in terms of wanting to be covert and minimizing escalation and the domestic imperative to respond to critics or reassure […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

Nooruddin with France24: Can India stay out of it? While West sanctions Russia, Delhi maintains historic ties

By Atlantic Council

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

Younus in BBC News: Pakistan’s Imran Khan is fighting for his political life

By Atlantic Council

In the News

Apr 1, 2022

O’Toole quoted in Bloomberg on the limited options for bondholders with cash stuck in Russia

Read the full article here.

Conflict Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 31, 2022

Preble on Net Assessment: Keeping the right secrets secret

By Atlantic Council

On March 31, Christopher Preble joined his co-hosts of the Net Assessment podcast to discuss information security, both in the US government and private sector, asking the question of whether we are striking the right balance between keeping government secrets secret and ensuring that private information about customers and users is well protected. “Chris and […]

Defense Policy Eastern Europe

In the News

Mar 31, 2022

Kroenig in the Wall Street Journal on Ukrainian nuclear disarmament

By Atlantic Council

Matthew Kroenig refutes the belief that the West wrongfully pressed Ukraine into nuclear disarmament upon the fall of the Soviet Union.

Arms Control Conflict

In the News

Mar 31, 2022

Polymeropoulos in NBC news on US efforts to arm Ukrainians

By Atlantic Council

Marc Polymeropoulos notes that overall, US weapons assistance to Ukraine has proven relatively effective.

Conflict Defense Policy
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