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

MENASource

May 8, 2026

New avenues for Syria-EU cooperation are forming amid conflict in the Middle East

By Marie Forestier 

The May 11 EU-Syria High-Level Political Dialogue marks a step toward a closer partnership.

Energy & Environment European Union

UkraineAlert

May 7, 2026

Putin is dragging Belarus deeper into Russia’s Ukraine invasion

By Hanna Liubakova

Belarus may not currently be poised to join the invasion of Ukraine, but Vladimir Putin is clearly intent on dragging the country deeper into Russia’s war effort, writes Hanna Liubakova.

Belarus Conflict

Econographics

May 7, 2026

As the Trump-Xi summit draws closer, trade uncertainty still looms large

By Jessie Yin

What China and the United States manage to agree on in Beijing on key export controls or purchase agreements will significantly shape the Trump administration’s approach to rebuilding its tariff wall.

China Economy & Business
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Issue Brief

May 8, 2026

Can Friedrich Merz’s chancellorship survive?

By Phyllis Berry

One year into his chancellorship, Friedrich Merz heads a government beset by economic stagnation, low public approval, and coalition tensions.

Economy & Business Elections

Issue Brief

May 7, 2026

The new playbook for AI leadership: The case of the United Arab Emirates

By Trisha Ray, Ryan Pan, Raul Brens Jr.

This report is the first in a series by the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center assessing emerging artificial intelligence (AI) powers around the world according to a novel five-pillar framework.

Artificial Intelligence Middle East

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
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Content

In the News

Dec 9, 2021

Pavel in Defense One on US military posture in the Mideast

By Atlantic Council

Barry Pavel publishes an article with Bilal Y. Saab in Defense One examining US military posture in the Mideast.

Defense Policy Iran

In the News

Dec 9, 2021

Fulton joins POMEPS Middle East Political Science Podcast to discuss China’s Relations with the Gulf

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Economy & Business

In the News

Dec 9, 2021

Schuman in The Atlantic: China wants to rule the world by controlling the rules

By Atlantic Council

On December 9, 2021, Michael Schuman published a story in The Atlantic, “China Wants to Rule the World by Controlling the Rules.” He argues that “the American monopoly on international rule-writing is facing its stiffest challenge since the fall of the Soviet Union.”

China Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 9, 2021

Dagres joins Monocle to discuss the latest on the Iran nuclear talks

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Kramer in The Hill discussing US military support for Ukraine

By Franklin D. Kramer

On December 8, Atlantic Council Board Director and Distinguished Fellow Franklin D. Kramer authored an article for The Hill arguing that the United States and its NATO allies should provide military support to Ukraine in the event of a full-scale Russian invasion.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Ashford in The New Republic: Russia “losing Ukraine to the West would be painful”

By Atlantic Council

On December 8, Ashford was quoted in the New Republic on the Russia-Ukraine crisis. “According to Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, the Ukrainian government has also accelerated the trend of pulling the country away from Russia both linguistically and culturally. “Ukraine is the seat of the Russian civilization,” says Ashford, and […]

Eastern Europe English

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Ashford in Politico: Reacting to the Summit for Democracy

By Atlantic Council

On December 8, senior fellow Emma Ashford was quoted in Politico’s Global Insider newsletter on the Summit for Democracy. “Emma Ashford, from the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, warned Global Insider against being too selective on membership. The key question: ‘How do you avoid driving countries away by offering benefits only to those in […]

English Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

Bryza in EURACTIV: Countering Russia’s false narrative: Putin’s menacing squeeze of Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 8, 2021

State department invited Asat to the Summit for Democracy to discuss Chinas political imprisonment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang

By Atlantic Council

China Civil Society

In the News

Dec 7, 2021

Vershbow joins CNN’s Christiane Amanpour to discuss the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine

Atlantic Council Distinguished Fellow, Amb. Alexander Vershbow, and Andrey Kortunov say an invasion wouldn't lead to a 'happy scenario' for President Putin.

Russia Ukraine
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