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

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

Podcast

May 5, 2026

Are we headed toward a US-China trade showdown?

By the GeoEconomics Center

With US President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing less than two weeks away, Josh and Jessie sit down with the Wall Street Journal’s chief China correspondent, Lingling Wei, to break down what issues will shape the agenda: from the Iran war to Washington’s push for “rules of origin,” which could fundamentally reshape trade relations. They also dig into the backroom drama of past high-level visits, including shouting matches and fistfights.

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

Dec 15, 2020

Crouch in DOD Reads on “The White Donkey”

By Atlantic Council

On December 15, Forward Defense senior military fellow LtCol Matthew Crouch wrote a book review in DOD Reads on "The White Donkey" by Maximilian Uriarte.

Security & Defense United States and Canada

In the News

Dec 15, 2020

Borghard in Washington Post: 3 lessons from Russia’s cyberhack into US agencies

By Atlantic Council

On December 16, Erica and co-author Jacquelyn Schneider wrote on the SolarWinds hack. They argued that this incident demonstrates the intelligence value of cyber operations and assessed the implications for deterrence and escalation. More about our expert

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 15, 2020

Borghard at Columbia University: Supply chain security, emerging threats and legal fixes: a view from the Cyberspace Solarium Commission

By Atlantic Council

Erica participated in a panel hosted by Columbia University with Senator Angus King on supply chain security and how the United States should approach a strategy for the security and resilience of the information and communications technology supply chain. More about our expert

Cybersecurity Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 15, 2020

How can government agencies modernize? David Bray, PhD at GovCon Different

By the GeoTech Center

Dr. David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center, spoke at GovCon Different about the process of modernizing government processes and infrastructure, drawing on his experience bringing the FCC into the cloud. Dr. Bray discussed the barriers to innovation, from culture and organization to fatigue and policy.

Digital Policy Technology & Innovation

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Azodi quoted in TRT World on US-Iran tensions
Iran Middle East

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Khoury quoted in the Washington Post on Israel-Morocco normalization
Israel Middle East

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Nusairat for the Berkley Forum: Biden Should Silence Islamophobes and Amplify Voices of Democracy and Human Rights in the “Muslim World”

By Tuqa Nusairat

Middle East Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Peek in National Interest: Battleground Iraq: The power of Iran’s coalition rests on its Influence in Iraq
Iran Iraq

In the News

Dec 14, 2020

Ashford at CSIS: A new era for US alliances

By Atlantic Council

Emma Ashford joined CSIS international security program for an online event that examined the challenges and opportunities for the U.S.-led system of alliances in the next decade and beyond. The Global Security Forum 2020 considered alliance dynamics for three scenarios: a climate change catastrophe, a Chinese blockade of Taiwan, and military escalation after Russian interference […]

East Asia International Norms

In the News

Dec 13, 2020

Ali in Formiche: What will not remain of Donald Trump
Democratic Transitions Elections
Load More