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

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Nawaz joins the Qamar Cheema Show to discuss how Pakistan and India should engage with lessons of history

By Atlantic Council

India Pakistan

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Riaz in the New Age: The unkept promises

By Atlantic Council

Bangladesh Pakistan

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Greenwald in Financial Times on China’s potential to undermine the dollar’s reserve currency status with the digital yuan

By Michael Greenwald

Read the full article here.

China Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Gen Cartwright, Sec. James in Breaking Defense on the need for a long-term strategy on space

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council Board Directors former Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General James E. Cartwright, USMC (Ret.) and former Secretary of the US Air Force the Hon. Deborah Lee James released an article in Breaking Defense titled "The Space Rush: New US strategy must bring order, regulation."

Rule of Law Security & Defense

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Charai in the Jerusalem Post: Did elections make peace in the Middle East a possibility?

By Atlantic Council

As Israel's public remains evenly divided between Benjamin Netanyahu's fragile coalition and an alternative leadership, the strength of the country's democracy is at risk. A solution must be found, argues Atlantic Council Board Director Ahmed Charai, or else the country may find itself unable to seize approaching opportunities for peace and security.

Elections Israel

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Dungan interviewed by CNN about Europe’s expectations for the Biden administration

On March 25, 2021, Nicholas Dungan spoke with CNN’s Meanwhile in America about Europe’s expectations for the Biden administration and transatlantic cooperation on China.

Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Mar 29, 2021

Mulder and Siegel in National Interest on Space Strategy

By Atlantic Council

On March 29, FD Senior Military Fellow Christopher P. Mulder and Young Global Professional Julia Siegel wrote a piece in National Interest on the role that space operations should play in a future National Defense Strategy. They argued that the centrality of space as a military domain will require a recognition of the need for new capabilities and strategies.

Space Security United States and Canada

In the News

Mar 27, 2021

Busch in The Hill: US should challenge Mexico’s ban on glyphosate and genetically-modified corn at the WTO

By Marc L. Busch

Marc Busch writes that the United States needs to take a potential trade dispute with Mexico to the WTO to pursue a science-based approach to trade, but that WTO reform might be necessary first.

Americas Economy & Business

In the News

Mar 27, 2021

Hu in the Hill on defense acquistion reform

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Nonresident Senior Fellow Evanna Hu published an article in the Hill titled "Defense acquisition reform is critical going forward."

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Mar 26, 2021

Badi in the Global Initiative: Muhasasa, militias and meddling foreign actors
Libya Middle East
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