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

Podcast

May 8, 2026

So What’s the Strategy for China?

By the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Host Matthew Kroenig is joined by Kurt Campbell, chairman and co-founder of The Asia Group, to discuss former President Joe Biden’s strategy toward China, the Trump administration's strategic approach to Beijing, and Donald Trump’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Campbell most recently served as the 22nd US deputy secretary of state. Previously, as assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, he was widely credited as the architect of the US “pivot to Asia.”

China Security & Defense

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
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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

Jul 30, 2021

Friedman in The Atlantic: Germany Found a Way to Reduce Polarization. Could It Work in the US?

"The country’s robust investment in public media has helped it reduce political divisions," writes Uri Friedman in The Atlantic

Germany Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Jul 30, 2021

Roberts quoted in Washington Post on the CCP’s strengthening grip on China’s tech companies

On July 30, Dexter Tiff Roberts was quoted in Washington Post article that discussed Beijing’s “politics in command” approach which “accepts some hits to economic growth in exchange for a stronger grip on tech companies.” Robert underscored Beijing’s intention on “strengthening control over private companies and foreign investment.” Read more about the author:

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Asat quoted in the New York Times on China’s broken commitments to deal with human rights abuses

By Atlantic Council

China Conflict

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Mezran quoted in L’Express on Tunisia’s economic crisis

By Atlantic Council

Civil Society Conflict

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

CBDC Tracker, Lipsky, and Friedlander featured in Cheddar News

By The GeoEconomics Center

Read the full article here. Explore the CBDC tracker here.

Digital Currencies United States and Canada

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Varshney joins Asia Society to discuss centrality of religion and caste in modern India

By Atlantic Council

India Nationalism

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Hasik in Defense and Aerospace Report Daily on the security of defense trade with allies

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow James Hasik appears on the Defense and Aerospace Report Daily Podcast.

Defense Technologies National Security

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Mark quoted in Wired on China’s regulation of technology companies

By Jeremy Mark

Read the whole article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Jul 29, 2021

Shared African perspectives on nuclear security and GeoTech

By Matthew Goodman

On the AfriNuke podcast, Geotech director Dr. David Bray discusses how technological trends of democratization relate to nuclear weapons, network devices, information sharing, and space.

Africa Nuclear Deterrence

In the News

Jul 28, 2021

Fontenrose quoted in The Manoment Current on the withdrawal of US troops in Iraq

By Atlantic Council

Defense Policy Iraq
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