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 15, 2022

Georgieva’s remarks from the IMF-GeoEconomics Center event featured in CNBC India

Read the full article here.

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Polymeropoulos in the New York Times on the role of US intelligence agencies

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Marc Polymeropoulos considers the role and limits of US intelligence agencies.

Intelligence Russia

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Mezran quoted in Formiche on Libya’s transitional government and parliamentary crisis

By Atlantic Council

Africa Democratic Transitions

In the News

Feb 15, 2022

Kadhim quoted in Al-Monitor on Iraq-Iran relations and sectarian parties in Iraq’s government

By Atlantic Council

Democratic Transitions Economy & Business

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Mu Changchun’s remarks from the UCSD-GeoEconomics Center conference on CBDCs in the Asia Pacific featured in Bloomberg

Read the full article here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Manning in Radio Free Asia: The U.S. will have a tentative list of additional sanctions on North Korea [translated from Korean]

By Atlantic Council

On February 14, Manning was cited by Radio Free Asia regarding how the United States is approaching financial sanctions of North Korea and the administration’s cooperation with allies. “Robert Manning, a senior researcher at the Atlantic Council…told Radio Free Asia (RFA) that the State Department is currently working with the Ministry of Finance to understand what additional sanctions […]

Economy & Business Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Sales joins Fox Business to discuss ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Nooruddin in The Wall Street Journal: Narendra Modi’s Party Faces Test in Uttar Pradesh, India’s ‘California and Texas Rolled Into One’

By Atlantic Council

Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Nooruddin with France24: India’s future: Will more Modi mean less for Muslims, women and the media?

By Atlantic Council

Indo-Pacific Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Feb 14, 2022

Bociurkiw in the Globe and Mail: With a Russian invasion looming, we can’t forget about everyday Ukrainians

By Atlantic Council

Conflict
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