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

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.

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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
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Content

In the News

Dec 3, 2020

Wieslander as a panelist with Carnegie Europe – NATO in 2030: Adapting to a New World
Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Dec 3, 2020

Pavel in Defense News on the next secretary of defense

By Atlantic Council

On December 3, Defense News published an article by Atlantic Council Senior Vice President and Director of the Scowcroft Center Barry Pavel titled "There should be no doubt about Michele Flournoy for defense secretary."

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 2, 2020

Speckhard in CNN: For Joe Biden, a key challenge in Central America

In better times, the verdant hills of Jinotega, Nicaragua, are carpeted with coffee cherries that yield a superior brew and provide a decent living for the region’s farming families. In the wake of hurricanes Eta and Iota — both of which struck Nicaragua as Category 4 storms earlier last month — many of these coffee farms now […]

South & Central Africa

In the News

Dec 2, 2020

Borghard in Modern War Institute: The economic aspects of great power competition

By Atlantic Council

Erica writes about the role of economic statecraft in great power competition and the dangers of the United States’ overreliance on economic power for coercive purposes. More about our expert

Defense Policy Economy & Business

In the News

Dec 2, 2020

LTG Hooper at Harvard’s Belfer Center on great-power competition, arms sales, and US foreign policy

By Atlantic Council

On December 2, Forward Defense nonresident senior fellow Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper (USA, Ret.) joined the Intelligence Project at Harvard’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs to discuss military developments in the Indo-Pacific region, US competition with China, and the role of defense cooperation relationships in furthering US national security interests.

Indo-Pacific Security & Defense

In the News

Dec 2, 2020

Preble in Vox: Biden may have a foreign policy “inbox problem”

By Atlantic Council

Christopher Preble was quoted in Vox, speaking about the challenges a Biden administration may face when trying to act on big foreign policy goals.

English Iran

In the News

Dec 1, 2020

Gordon quoted in Forbes on Biden nuclear agenda
Nuclear Energy United States and Canada

In the News

Dec 1, 2020

Slavin joins WHYY to discuss US-Iran relations in the final weeks of the Trump Administration
Elections Iran

In the News

Dec 1, 2020

Qaddour quoted in VOA on Syria Constitution talks
Politics & Diplomacy Syria

In the News

Dec 1, 2020

Jain in The National Interest: Joe Biden’s historic opportunity to reshape global order

"America’s alliances have been one of its greatest strategic assets, helping unleash unprecedented geopolitical stability, economic development, and increase in human dignity worldwide over the last 75 years. Trump nearly destroyed this asset. But by reinvesting in these relationships and approaching them in a more networked and humble manner, Biden can address the most consequential challenges and crises of today and tomorrow while constructing a new order for the coming decades," writes Ash in the National Interest.

Politics & Diplomacy
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