Timely commentary and analysis

Relevance at speed is critical for the Atlantic Council. We comment on and analyze real world events as they happen–delivering always more light than heat, and focusing on what matters.

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Mar 20, 2026

Tracking US military assets in the Iran war

By Joe Costa, Theresa Luetkefend, and Moss Gillespie,

What is the US military committing to the war in Iran? How will that affect the US presence in other theaters around the world—including the Pacific, where the United States faces its most consequential challenge? We’re tracking the aircraft carriers, bombers, and missile defense systems deployed to Operation Epic Fury.

China Defense Industry

EnergySource

Mar 19, 2026

The Iran war tests Taiwan’s energy resilience

By Kevin Li

Taiwan's energy vulnerabilities are being sharply tested by supply disruptions from the conflict in Iran. Mitigating these risks will require both short-term crisis management and longer-term diversification of its energy mix.

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security
Man-standing-next-to-airplane-on-carrier

Podcast

Mar 18, 2026

Does the Iran war signal the end of economic statecraft?

By the GeoEconomics Center

From tariffs to sanctions, the Trump administration relied heavily on the geoeconomic toolkit in 2025. With the war in Iran and capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, has President Donald Trump lost his patience with these tools?

Economy & Business Iran

Podcast

Mar 16, 2026

Inside Trump’s economic strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic

By the Atlantic Council

Amid a war in Iran, a slowdown in shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and tariff uncertainty, John Jovanovic, chairman and president of the US Export-Import Bank (EXIM), explains why he believes “these times call for a very strong, robust export-import bank.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy

Podcast

Mar 13, 2026

So what’s the strategy for Iran?

By the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

In this episode, host Matthew Kroenig is joined by Alex Gray, a nonresident senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center, to discuss the ongoing war with Iran and how to understand Washington’s strategy for victory. Alex was chief of staff at the National Security Council during the first Trump administration and was in the room when US President Donald Trump oversaw the military operation that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.

Security & Defense United States
Russa-Economy-podcast-epiosde-4

Podcast

Mar 10, 2026

What’s the state of Russia’s economy?

By the GeoEconomics Center

From sanctions to shadow fleets, we discuss evasion tactics and how Russia could benefit from an extended conflict in the Middle East that boosts oil prices.

Economy & Business Russia

Podcast

Mar 9, 2026

Fighting mercenaries: A Ukrainian soldier’s perspective

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 15 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Dimko Zhluktenko, a Ukrainian drone pilot and analyst within the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Ukrainian military. They discuss the realities of drone warfare in Ukraine, as well as the ways in which mercenary forces change the nature and tempo of battle.

Drones Eastern Europe

Event Recap

Mar 6, 2026

Inside Trump’s long-term economic strategy, with EXIM Bank’s John Jovanovic

By Katherine Golden

At an Atlantic Council Front Page event, Jovanovic talked about the supply chains he is working to reshape, from critical minerals to energy.

Trade and tariffs United States and Canada

Video

Mar 3, 2026

Videos

Atlantic Debrief

Mar 3, 2026

#AtlanticDebrief – What’s in store for the Three Seas Summit? | A Debrief from Amb. Romana Vlahutin

Senior Fellow Ian Brzezinski sits down with Ambassador Romana Vlahutin to discuss the upcoming 3SI Summit in Croatia.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Podcast

Feb 27, 2026

How to deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan, with Rep. John Moolenaar

By the Atlantic Council

Congressman John Moolenaar, chairman of the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, discusses how the United States and Taiwan can strengthen deterrence in the Taiwan Strait.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
ACFP-Trade-feature

Podcast

Feb 19, 2026

Inside the Trump trade strategy with USTR’s Jamieson Greer

By the Atlantic Council

An AC Front Page conversation with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Economy & Business Politics & Diplomacy
stock-market-board

Podcast

Feb 19, 2026

2026 Predictions: Washington vs. Wall Street

By the GeoEconomics Center

Josh Lipsky and Sophia Busch test the GeoEconomics Center’s predictions for the 2026 global economy with Goldman Sachs Chief Economist Jan Hatzius.

Economy & Business

Event Recap

Feb 12, 2026

‘Don’t allow deception to become reality’ on Taiwan, says Congressman John Moolenaar

By Katherine Golden

Moolenaar made the case for the United States to "push back" against the Chinese Communist Party's "false narratives" whenever they appear.

China Crisis Management

Podcast

Feb 11, 2026

Narco noir: Drugs, gangs and mercenaries in Latin America

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 14 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Dr Vanda Felbab-Brown, a renowned expert on non-state armed groups and organised crime. They begin by discussing the escalation of gang violence in Haiti over the last year, despite the arrival of the American PMC, Vectus Global, which is led by the Blackwater founder Erik Prince. Vanda points out that a recent air campaign weaponizing off-the-shelf drones was intended to decapitate the gangs but, while hundreds of Haitians have been killed, none of them have been significant gang leaders. They go on to explore why governments in the region allow and coopt street militias, the bunkering of fuel by colectivos in Venezuela, Hizballah’s continuing narcotics operations across Latin America, the IRGC’s role in drug trafficking, and how the regime in Iran ends.

Americas Caribbean

Podcast

Feb 10, 2026

Is a dollar vibe shift under way?

By the GeoEconomics Center

This episode breaks down how the greenback impacts trade, investment, national security, and the average consumer, as we try to answer the question: is the dollar having a vibe shift?

Dollar Dominance Economy & Business

Podcast

Jan 27, 2026

Markets, monetary policy, and central bank independence

By the GeoEconomics Center

In this episode of Guide to the Global Economy, experts assess the significance of the US Justice Department’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and growing tensions between the White House and the Fed over interest rates, why markets aren’t reacting to the clash, and what’s at stake for US economic credibility and the US economy as a whole.

Economy & Business

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jan 7, 2026

US-Brazil trade dashboard

By the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Amid the United States' high-stakes trade offensive against Brazil, this tracker monitors how tariffs are reshaping the trajectory of US-Brazil commerce.

Americas Brazil

Spotlight

Dec 17, 2025

Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026: Ten defining questions for the year ahead

By the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

A look at the ten defining questions that will shape Latin America and the Caribbean in 2026.

Argentina Brazil

Podcast

Dec 11, 2025

“Youth as merchandise”: Iraqi mercenaries in Ukraine

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 13 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by the Iraqi political analyst Mohammed Salih to discuss the legion of Iraqi men turning up on the frontlines of the war in Ukraine.

Iraq Middle East