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

Sep 15, 2026

With Putin overextended in Ukraine, Armenia is turning away from Russia

By Joseph Epstein

Every day Ukraine keeps fighting, Russian influence grows weaker in the countries of the ex-USSR that Moscow refers to as the “near abroad.” Nowhere is this Russian retreat clearer than in Armenia, writes Joseph Epstein.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Econographics

Sep 15, 2026

The Philippines needs to turn fast growth into productive growth

By Amin Mohseni-Cheraghlou

The Southeast Asian nation has proved it can grow. Now, amid shifting supply chains and rising geopolitical tensions, it must prove it can grow more productively.

Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

MENASource

Sep 15, 2026

Can oil deals reset US-Iraqi relations? 

By Yesar Al-Maleki

Iraq has a short window of time to rein in its militias and create favorable commercial conditions to improve ties with the US.

Energy & Environment Iraq
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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

Feb 28, 2022

Manning and Burrows in Foreign Policy: The US can’t afford a double Cold War

By Atlantic Council

On March 28, Mathew Burrows and Robert Manning published an article in Foreign Policy making the case that the United States cannot afford to have a double Cold War with China and Russia. “Fighting a two-front new cold war would mean far higher military expenditures, great uncertainty weighing down the global economy, and a diversion […]

China Eastern Europe

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Kroenig in the Irish Times on Russia’s nuclear threat

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig explains that Putin's heightened nuclear alert is textbook Russian strategy and likely a bluff.

Arms Control Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Friendlander interviewed by Yahoo Finance on the West blocking Russia from SWIFT and Russia’s economic outlook

Watch the full interview here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Insights & Impact

Feb 28, 2022

Shaffer for Foreign Policy: Putin Just Pushed the World Into an Even Bigger Energy Crisis
Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Friendlander quoted in Wall Street Journal how Western sanctions on Russia will impact global monetary and macro stability

Read the full article here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Polymeropoulos in Washington Monthly on US covert assistance to Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Marc Polymeropoulos recommends to the Washington Monthly that the US covertly provide assistance to the Ukrainian resistance.

Conflict Rule of Law

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Mezran quoted in The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington on Libya’s presidential crisis and democratic backsliding

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Insights & Impact

Feb 28, 2022

Ellinas quoted in Gas Outlook on Cypriot gas export options
Energy & Environment Oil and Gas

In the News

Feb 28, 2022

Lipsky interviewed by NBC News on how the new round of sanctions on Russia will affect the global economy

Watch the interview here.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Insights & Impact

Feb 28, 2022

Nawaz joins Naya Daur TV to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

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