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

Econographics

Sep 14, 2026

Friends with few trade benefits

By Madeline Chalecki

Free trade agreements were supposed to protect US trading partners. But the Trump administration’s tariffs are putting that promise to the test.

Economy & Business Trade and tariffs

UkraineAlert

Sep 13, 2026

Learning from Ukraine’s unrivaled experience of Russian cyber warfare

By Iryna Volnytska

No country in the world today knows more about Russian cyber warfare than Ukraine, but further steps are required in order to help Kyiv’s partners make the most of Ukraine’s unrivaled experience, writes Iryna Volnytska.

Conflict Cybersecurity

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
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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

Mar 9, 2022

Pavel and Wetzel in Politico on strategic risk in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Politico’s “National Security Daily” highlights Barry Pavel and Tyson Wetzel's Strategic Risk Calculator.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Ashford on Channel 4’s Fourcast: Is this the end of the post-Cold War era?

By Atlantic Council

On March 9, Emma Ashford featured on Channel 4’s Fourcast podcast to discuss the geopolitical ramifications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “During the Cold War, we found ways to mitigate some of the worst risks of that situation. We need to figure out how to replicate those things going forward if we want this to […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Ashford in Fox News: Former US ambassador to NATO: Putin has ‘put himself on a plank’

By Atlantic Council

On March 9, Emma Ashford was quoted by Fox News in an article responding to her appearance on Intelligence Squared. “Volker and Ashford argued broadly about the United States’ stance defending Ukraine, Ukraine’s place in or outside NATO, the benefits or downsides of sanctions against Russia, and more over the course of the podcast episode.” […]

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Mar 9, 2022

Schuman in The Atlantic: China’s Russia Risk

By Atlantic Council

On March 9, 2022, Global China Hub senior fellow Michael Schuman published an article in The Atlantic, “China’s Russia Risk”. In this piece, he argues that “China’s relations with Russia are becoming a test case for what role Beijing’s leaders want to play in the world.”

China Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Mark quoted in South China Morning Post on global use of the yuan compared to the dollar

Read the full article here

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Fried joins MSNBC to discuss Poland’s fighter jet offer for Ukraine

Former US Ambassador to Poland Daniel Fried discusses US negotiations with Poland on a deal to supply Ukraine with fighter jets.

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Lipsky interviewed in On Point Podcast on sanctions as a tool for maximum pressure

Watch the interview here

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Kumar cited in Stanford University’s Digital China Initiative

Read the full article here

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Friedlander opinion piece on sanctions consequences published in Politico

Read the full piece here

Economy & Business European Union

In the News

Mar 8, 2022

Lichfield quoted by CNN Business on Russia energy sanctions

Read the full article here

Economy & Business Energy & Environment
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