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 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.

MENASource

May 5, 2026

Dispatch from Beirut: Israel-Hezbollah talks risk falling into a failed, decades-long pattern

By Nicholas Blanford

As the war with Israel revives Hezbollah and divides Lebanon, the ongoing negotiations echo failed 1983 talks.

Conflict Israel

UkraineAlert

May 4, 2026

Zelenskyy rains on Putin’s parade: Kyiv and Moscow declare rival ceasefires

By Peter Dickinson

Victory Day was supposed to be an opportunity for Vladimir Putin to project power. Instead, this year’s drastically scaled down parade is exposing Russia’s weakness while revealing Ukraine's strength, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones
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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

Oct 24, 2020

Warrick quoted on election security in AP

By Atlantic Council

Thomas Warrick, the former deputy assistant secretary of homeland security for counterterrorism policy and and nonresident senior fellow with Forward Defense, was quoted in an AP article on risks to election security and the role of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Agency (CISA) within the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in countering those threats.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Kroenig and Ashford discuss the final presidential debate and a growing consensus on China

By Atlantic Council

On October 23, Foreign Policy published a biweekly column featuring Scowcroft Center deputy director Matthew Kroenig and New American Engagement Initiative senior fellow Emma Ashford discussing the latest news in international affairs. In this column, they discuss the final presidential debate, recent administrations’ struggles to navigate the North Korea challenge, a growing bipartisan consensus on China, and developments […]

China Korea

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Pfaff in DefenseOne: Want Real Security? Create Better Global Digital Rules and Norms
Iraq Middle East

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Hudson quoted in Voice of America on Sudan’s normalization of relations with Israel

By Atlantic Council

Africa Israel

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Hudson quoted in the New York Times on Sudan’s normalization of relations with Israel

By Atlantic Council

Africa Israel

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Fontenrose quoted in Newsweek on Trump’s sanctions on Iran amid COVID-19 spike
Iran Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Qaddour joins MEI to discuss Syria and US policy post-election
Elections Middle East

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Kroenig participates in London School of Economics panel

By Atlantic Council

On October 22, Matthew Kroenig participated in a London School of Economics IDEAS panel on the presidential election and US-China relations.

China Elections

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Grundman in Aviation Week on the US defense budget

By Atlantic Council

On October 23, Forward Defense Non-Resident Senior Fellow Steven Grundman wrote an Aviation Week article titled "Opinion: 'Efficiencies' Alone Cannot Solve US Defense Budget Crunch."

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Oct 23, 2020

Brooks on New Light Theater Project panel

By Atlantic Council

On October 24, Atlantic Council Nonresident Senior Fellow Michelle Kholos Brooks participated in a panel for the New Light Time Machine project, which revisits past theater productions and creative teams to explore their journeys to production.

Media Nationalism
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