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

May 6, 2026

Ukrainian battlefield gains expose Russia’s communications problems

By Miro Sedlák

Ukraine has demonstrated in recent months that it is capable of exploiting weaknesses in Russia’s front line defenses. Kyiv’s allies should now seek to prioritize the tools that will identify and exacerbate these weak points, writes Miro Sedlák.

Conflict Cybersecurity

EnergySource

May 6, 2026

Fortifying US national security with a hidden energy advantage

By Sudeep Kanungo, Ryan J. Lamke, and Troy Warshel

Developing new underground energy resources—geothermal and geologic hydrogen—could bolster both US energy security and its national defense. Here's how Congress can enable this.

Energy & Environment Renewables & Advanced Energy

Podcast

May 5, 2026

Are we headed toward a US-China trade showdown?

By the GeoEconomics Center

With US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing less than two weeks away, Josh and Jessie sit down with the Wall Street Journal’s chief China correspondent, Lingling Wei, to break down what issues will shape the agenda: from the Iran war to Washington’s push for “rules of origin,” which could fundamentally reshape trade relations. They also dig into the backroom drama of past high-level visits, including shouting matches and fistfights.

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Latest in-depth research and reports

Report

May 4, 2026

Powering data centers in emerging markets

By Phillip Cornell

This report examines how emerging markets are increasingly powering the next wave of data centers, with recommendations for policymakers.

Africa Artificial Intelligence

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
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Content

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Preble on the Net Assessment podcast: The Pacific is not so Pacific

By Atlantic Council

On February 17, Christopher Preble and his co-hosts of the Net Assessment podcast talked about the Biden administration’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which was released even as the national security advisor was warning of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine. The timing seems awkward. So, what was the rush? And what is missing? The podcasters raise several […]

China Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Ashford on NPR: How NATO’s eastward expansion set the stage for the standoff in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On February 17, Emma Ashford was featured on NPR’s Here and Now, discussing the history behind the crisis in Ukraine. “The current standoff on the Ukrainian border began when Russian President Vladimir Putin provoked fears of an invasion, but the roots of the crisis go back decades. “Russia and the West have been at odds about the […]

Eastern Europe English

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

CBDC Tracker cited in Cointelegraph on the global development of central bank digital currencies

Read the full article here.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Pavel in Defense One on US force posture

By Atlantic Council

Barry Pavel recommends that the Biden Administration ensure their upcoming National Defense Strategy recognizes Russia as a legitimate military threat.

China Defense Policy

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Thomas Warrick in WUSA9 on alleged DC lieutenant ties to white supremacy

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative senior advisor and Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Thomas Warrick advocates for patience and diligence in investigation of DC lieutenant.

Extremism National Security

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Bryza Quoted in DNYUZ on Turkey’s Support for Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Nia quoted in Radio France Internationale on legal accountability for war crimes in Syria at The Hague

By Atlantic Council

French International Norms
Financing & Genocide: Development Finance and the Crisis in the Uyghur Region

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

New DFRLab report featured in the The Washington Post: World Bank unit is financing Chinese companies that appear to employ forced laborers, report says

Read The Washington Post's coverage of the DFRLab's latest report, "Financing & genocide: Development finance and the crisis in the Uyghur Region."

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Pavel interviewed by TRT World on the role of China and Russia in the existing world order

By Barry Pavel

On February 4, director of the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Barry Pavel discussed how the actions of China and Russia may alter the existing world order on the Turkish international news channel TRT World. Pavel commented on Xi’s increasing confidence overseas and Russia’s aggression in Eastern Europe.

International Norms

In the News

Feb 17, 2022

Marks in Yahoo! News on the Russia-Ukraine Crisis

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft center nonresident senior fellow Ronald Marks considers why Putin would want to invade Ukraine.

Conflict Crisis Management
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