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.

Podcast

Jun 18, 2026

“Shoot everybody”: US contractors in San Diego court

By Alia Brahimi

In Season 2, Episode 16 of the Guns for Hire podcast, host Alia Brahimi is joined by Daniel McLaughlin, an international lawyer and Legal Director of the Centre for Justice and Accountability (CJA), a California-based legal nonprofit working on behalf of victims of torture and other atrocity crimes. Daniel and CJA are leading a civil suit in San Diego against a Delaware-registered PMC, Spear Operations Group, for war crimes in Yemen. They represent the Yemeni parliamentarian Anssaf Ali Mayo, who was one of the targets of an alleged hit-squad in Yemen. Daniel talks us through the facts of the case, how it ended up in a California courtroom ten years later, and which US and international laws were ostensibly broken by the PMC. He also argues forcefully that the US government has a duty to regulate how former members of its military use their training and know-how.

Middle East Rule of Law

Podcast

Jun 12, 2026

Andrew Giuliani on the White House’s World Cup security playbook

By the Atlantic Council

The FIFA World Cup kicks off this week across the US, Mexico, and Canada, bringing with it millions of fans, dozens of teams, and what officials describe as a security challenge unlike any sporting event the United States has hosted before.

Podcast

Jun 12, 2026

So what’s the strategy for NATO’s transformation?

By the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Host Matthew Kroenig is joined by Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) to discuss how NATO is confronting the changing nature of war and the evolving threats facing the alliance. NATO ACT leads the Alliance’s military adaptation, coordinating efforts across member nations. ACT works to identify challenges and opportunities to ensure that the Alliance maintains a warfighting edge over its adversaries.

Podcast

Jun 3, 2026

Should we be worried about the bond market?

By the GeoEconomics Center

Bond yields have spiked, especially in advanced economies. But why is that? And what does that actually mean? Alice Fulwood, US business editor at the Economist and co-host of the podcast Money Talks, joins Josh and Jessie to decode the signals in the global bond market—from Iran inflation concerns to growing government debt.

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 2, 2026

Braw in Economist Enterprise on the benefits of decreased globalization

By Elisabeth Braw

On June 2, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw mentioned in an article in the Economist Enterprise on how the end of globalization could bring unexpected benefits.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 2, 2026

Braw in The Guardian on the importance of citizen resilience

By Elisabeth Braw

On June 2, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in The Guardian discussing the importance of civilian preparedness and how NATO allies can find inspiration in the Scandinavian and Baltic regions.

Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 1, 2026

Braw in POLITICO on the advantage of Rule of law in European business

By Elisabeth Braw

On June 1, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in POLITICO on how European companies benefit from the continent’s rule of law in an age of geopolitical risk.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 1, 2026

Braw in Foreign Policy on GPS jamming

By Elisabeth Braw

On June 1, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in Foreign Policy on the persistent problem of GPS jamming, and the impact on safe air and sea travel.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 1, 2026

Braw in The Spectator on whether a stray drone constitutes an attack

By Elisabeth Braw

On June 1, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in The Spectator on whether a stray drone constitutes an attack – using the recent drone strike in Galati, Romania as an example.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 25, 2026

Braw in Mirror on a Russian warship being spotted 30 miles of the UK coast

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 25, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was mentioned in an article in Mirror on the Russian cruise missile ship RFN Admiral Grigorovich being spotted 30 miles off the UK coast while escorting sanctioned Russian tankers through the English Channel.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 25, 2026

Braw in El Pais on Russia’s hybrid activity in the Øresund Strait

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 25, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was mentioned in an article in El Pais on how the Øresund Strait has become crucial to Russia’s hybrid operations.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 25, 2026

Braw in Future on the risk to seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 25, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in Future about the risk to seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz – and how this is holding up shipping in the strait.

Maritime Security Middle East

Podcast

May 22, 2026

What did the Trump-Xi summit actually achieve?

By the GeoEconomics Center

After months of anticipation, US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping finally met in Beijing. But beyond a few concrete announcements—including a Chinese pledge to buy two hundred Boeing jets—the summit raised more questions than it answered. Together with Melanie Hart, senior director of the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, Josh and Jessie unpack what actually came out of the meeting: from purchase commitments and assurances around critical minerals to Trump’s controversial comments on Taiwan.

Testimony

May 21, 2026

Carole House testifies to House Financial Services Committee on modernizing illicit finance frameworks for the twenty-first century

By Carole House

Carole House testified to the House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions at a hearing titled, “Modernizing the BSA for Financial Crime in the 21st Century."

Digital Currencies Economy & Business

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 18, 2026

Braw in US Senator Rand Paul press release

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 18, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was mentioned in a press release by US Senator Rand Paul discussing the REPO Implementation Act of 2025.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 18, 2026

Braw in Prospect on what constitutes an act of war

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 18, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was published in Prospect in an article about what constitutes an act of war, and the ongoing trial of the owner of the Nord Stream pipeline and its insurers.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 18, 2026

Braw testifies in front of the National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 18, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw testified in front of the National Security Strategy (Joint Committee) on undersea cables.

Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 18, 2026

Braw in The Times on the role of business in national security

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 18, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw published an article in The Times on how in matters of national security the West needs businesses to start doing the right thing.

Europe & Eurasia National Security

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 15, 2026

Braw in Sky News on Iran threatening tariffs on undersea cables

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by Sky News on Iran threatening to place tariffs on vital undersea cables that support global connectivity.

Maritime Security Middle East

Timely Commentary & Analysis

May 14, 2026

Braw in Sky News on Iran seizing ship in Strait of Hormuz

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 14, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was interviewed by Sky News on Iran seizing a shipping vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

Maritime Security Middle East