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

Jul 16, 2026

Ukraine’s tech-savvy defense minister ousted in clash with army old guard

By Peter Dickinson

President Zelenskyy's decision to side with the army old guard and oust Ukraine's tech-savvy Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has sparked a political crisis and raised questions over the country's future direction, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jul 16, 2026

Innovation under fire: Ukraine’s energy defense is a blueprint for the world

By Oleksii Riabchyn

Those who still treat energy resilience as a technical matter are not prepared for the changes currently taking place in military doctrine. Thanks to Ukraine, the blueprint to address this vulnerability exists, writes Oleksii Riabchyn.

Conflict Defense Technologies

UkraineAlert

Jul 16, 2026

Ukraine’s national recovery must go far beyond rebuilding what was lost

By Vitalii Kim

As international efforts to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine continue, it is also vital to look beyond the battlefield and address the issue of Ukraine’s recovery in order to create the conditions for a genuine national renewal, writes Vitalii Kim.

Conflict Critical Infrastructure Policy
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Latest in-depth research and reports

Report

Jul 16, 2026

Artificial intelligence and the future of African mining

By Anthony Carroll and Jef Karel Caers

Artificial intelligence and digitalization offer African states, the United States, and allied partners an opportunity to move beyond legacy constraints and one-sided partnerships in the mining sector.

Africa Artificial Intelligence

Report

Jul 15, 2026

2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes: The legal foundations that enable prosperity are rapidly eroding

By Ignacio Campomanes, Nina Dannaoui-Johnson, Annie (Yu-Lin) Lee, James Mazzarella

Adherence to the rule of law has declined sharply since 2020. Drawing on thirty years of data across 171 countries, the 2026 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes show why that matters: without strong legal foundations, economic reforms stall, democracies erode, and prosperity stays out of reach for millions.

Freedom and Prosperity Rule of Law

Issue Brief

Jul 7, 2026

AI is the next major biodefense tech priority

By the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense

Artificial intelligence is changing how biological threats can be created, detected, and countered.

Artificial Intelligence Security & Defense
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Content

GeoTech Cues

May 25, 2021

GeoTech Director Dr. David Bray describes the “GeoTech Decade” ahead

By GeoTech Center

“What is the Geopolitics of Tech? Why is this report and Commission important? What does the report recommend and how is this different from other Commissions? How does the Commission hope to socialize and scale its recommendations into tangible actions? What has the process of writing it looked like? What are the main recommendations? What are the implications for the next decade?” Trond Arne Undheim interviews GeoTech Director Dr. David Bray on the GeoTech Report and on the term "GeoTech Decade" this report aims to shape.

Economy & Business Security & Defense

In the News

May 25, 2021

Katz in Russia Matters: “Russia’s Competing Policy Interests in Syria and the Middle East”

By Atlantic Council

Middle East Russia

In the News

May 25, 2021

Brahimi in Foreign Policy: “How Israel Lost the Culture War”

By Atlantic Council

Civil Society Human Rights

In the News

May 25, 2021

Yade joins the House Foreign Affairs Committee to speak on African innovation and leadership

By Atlantic Council

To mark the occasion of Africa Day, Africa Center Director Amb. Rama Yade joined the US House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, May 25 for a roundtable on African entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership and how to build stronger US-Africa ties.

Africa Economy & Business

In the News

May 25, 2021

Linscott in the Ripon Society: WTO at a crossroads: Will 2021 be a year of reform or irrelevance?

By Atlantic Council

Economy & Business India

In the News

May 25, 2021

Fernandes in Forbes India: Why India’s governance needs to delink public health from bureaucracy

By Atlantic Council

Crisis Management India

In the News

May 25, 2021

Slavin joins PRI’s The World to discuss the latest updates on the nuclear deal

By Atlantic Council

Elections Iran

In the News

May 25, 2021

Azodi quoted in AhramOnline on the prospect of Javad Zarif being interested in running in upcoming elections

By Atlantic Council

Corruption Elections

In the News

May 25, 2021

Ferziger in The Telegraph: “The future may be bright for Hamas after winning the propaganda war”

By Atlantic Council

Israel Middle East

In the News

May 24, 2021

Herr, Handler, and Schroeder on the Cipher Brief’s State Secrets podcast

By Atlantic Council

Trey Herr, Simon Handler, and Emma Schroeder join the Cipher Brief's State Secrets podcast to discuss their recent report on the Sunburst cyber-espionage campaign.

Cybersecurity Intelligence
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