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.

Read our annual report
Learn more

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

Download PDF
Read the essays
sign up for more

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.

view all Program impact stories

Latest commentary and analysis

MENASource

May 7, 2026

Egypt’s bet on land monetization

By Amir Asmar

There’s little doubt that Egypt's land development efforts will have measurable economic benefits, but they are unlikely, by themselves, to put the country’s economy on a solid footing.

North & West Africa

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
View all commentary & analysis

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
View all In-depth Research & reports

Content

In the News

Jan 29, 2022

Ellinas in Cyprus Mail: Cyprus Energy: The need for electrical interconnection
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

In the News

Jan 29, 2022

Ashford in the New York Times: Putin has long tried to balance Europe. Now he’s working to reset it.

By Atlantic Council

On January 29, Ashford was quoted in the New York Times on Russia’s approach to Ukraine. “‘There’s a risk of pushing Europe together, of amplifying more hawkish voices and capitals,’ said Emma Ashford, who studies European security issues at The Atlantic Council research group. ‘And there’s the risk of pulling America back in, even as it’s trying […]

Eastern Europe English

In the News

Jan 29, 2022

Dagres quoted in Voice of America Persian News Network on human rights and internet freedom in Iran

By Atlantic Council

Farsi Human Rights

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

Kroenig and Ashford debate US commitments to Ukraine

On January 27, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs. In their latest column, they gauge Ukraine’s importance as a US security interest and debate how far the US should go to defend the country […]

Conflict Defense Policy

Op-Ed

Jan 28, 2022

Haring in USA Today: Biden needs to get Ukraine right. America’s security depends on it.

Despite Vladimir Putin's troops at Ukraine's border, there’s still time. Russia doesn't have forces in place for a full-on invasion, yet.

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

Hooper in Defense News on the simultaneity problem

By Atlantic Council

LTG Charles Hooper, USA (Ret.) shares his view that the United States will not have to manage multiple crises simultaneously.

China Conflict

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

O’Toole and Fried quoted in the Wall Street Journal on the Biden Administration’s latest sanctions plans.

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

Eftimiades in the Guardian on Chinese espionage at the Olympics

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Nicholas Eftimiades' analysis on Chinese espionage highlighted in the Guardian.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

Dagres quoted in Broadband Breakfast on internet freedom rights in Iran

By Atlantic Council

Internet Iran

In the News

Jan 28, 2022

Friedlander featured in Merics on transatlantic cooperation on China in 2022

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business
Load More