In-depth research and reports

Climate crisis fuels change in MENA region

By Rabah Arezki

The region faces economic and political transitions amid geopolitical risks, climate change, and energy market shifts. Escalating conflicts are exacerbating instability. Climate change poses existential threats, intensifying water crises and domestic tensions. Socioeconomic transformation will be vital to meet youth aspirations and tackle polarization.

EU’s future prosperity will be marked by war in Ukraine

By Simeon Djankov

The EU’s freedom and prosperity dynamics will be marked by the war in Ukraine. The indexes provoke philosophical reflection: Is Europe’s prosperity dwindling due to an extensive social safety net? Is the strength of European integration declining with new members, while the strength of EU federalism diminishes?

Sub-Saharan Africa grapples with development imperatives

By William Easterly

Sub-Saharan Africa confronts urgent development challenges, including the imperative for democratization and institution building, amid critical security concerns. With declining foreign support and China’s Belt and Road Initiative rising, worries arise over debt and politicized financing. Despite potential through regional integration, diverse political interests and institutional weaknesses remain obstacles.

NATO multidomain operations: Near- and medium-term priority initiatives

By Franklin D. Kramer, Ann Marie Dailey, Joslyn Brodfuehrer

How can NATO improve its ability to fight as a multination coalition? These seven initiatives for NATO to take over the next five years can help.

This year’s bipartisan immigration bill offers a border blueprint for 2025

By Thomas S. Warrick

The consequences of another year of inaction on border security and immigration policy may convince a supermajority in the Congress to take up again in 2025 many of the ideas in this year’s bipartisan Senate compromise—no matter which party captures the White House in November.

Hacking with AI

By Maia Hamin, Stewart Scott

Can generative AI help hackers? By deconstructing the question into attack phases and actor profiles, this report analyzes the risks, the realities, and their implications for policy.

Global Energy Agenda full survey results

In the fall of 2023, the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center surveyed global energy and climate experts for an in-depth analysis to set the agenda for the world to achieve net-zero emissions and an energy-secure future for all.

The competition for influence in the Americas is now online

By Celina Realuyo

China is expanding its footprint in Latin America and the Caribbeans’s emerging technology and critical infrastructure arenas, while Russia is engaging in foreign influence operations via the cyber domain. These challenges require a proactive stance by the United States.

China pairs actions with messaging in Latin America. The United States should do the same.

By David O. Shullman

China has coordinated trade, financing, and investment with diplomatic engagement, public diplomacy, and information operations to deepen its influence in Latin America and the Caribbean. Washington should, in turn, pair diplomatic engagement and messaging with greater attention to regional countries’ needs.

Don’t let geopolitics undermine Latin America’s hard-won free markets

By Stephen B. Kaplan

The United States is concerned about China’s close economic ties to Latin America and the Caribbean; however, the US response should be careful not to undermine longstanding market norms and popular trade liberalization policies

China and Russia engage Latin America and the Caribbean differently. Both threaten US interests.

By Ryan C. Berg

China and Russia are both seeking to deepen their influence in the Western Hemisphere at the expense of the United States, though the means by, and ends for, which they pursue that differ in some cases. China’s engagement is more thorough and multifaceted, while Russia’s is more circumscribed.

Beijing’s influence on Latin America’s energy mix is growing—especially in renewables

By Joseph Webster, William Tobin

Russia and, especially, China are intertwined in Latin America’s energy market, with Chinese ties expanding markedly over the past two decades. The United States and its allies and partners must take quick action to counter this rising influence.

Future-proofing the Cyber Safety Review Board

By Maia Hamin, Trey Herr, Stewart Scott, Alphaeus Hanson

The Cyber Safety Review Board seeks to examine and learn from complex failures in cyberspace. As Congress considers how to design its next iteration, there are ways to make it more effective and adaptable for the increasing challenges to come.

China Pathfinder update: Lack of policy solutions in second half of 2023 belies official data

By GeoEconomics Center and Rhodium Group

Through the second half of 2023, the gap between China’s impressive official data and visibly underwhelming consumer demand, unresolved local government debt problems and an unprecedented drop in foreign direct investment was stark.

Requirements for nuclear deterrence and arms control in a two-nuclear-peer environment

By Greg Weaver and Amy Woolf

Gregory Weaver and Amy Woolf discuss the future of US nuclear posture and arms control, as the United States will soon face two adversaries with peer nuclear arsenals.

Russia Tomorrow: Five scenarios for Russia’s future

By Casey Michel

A new Atlantic Council report explores five paths that Russia future might take in its future. What forces will shape Russia’s future?

Decarbonizing the aluminum market: Challenges and opportunities

By Nitya Aggarwal, Matthew Piotrowski, and George Frampton

This report explores the pathways to decarbonize aluminum production through the increased use of recycled scrap metal, supplying more low-carbon energy to production facilities, and increasing efficiency through new technologies.

A US-South Korea alliance strategic memo on deterrence

By Markus Garlauskas, Lauren D. Gilbert

With North Korea’s rapidly advancing military technology, aggressive nuclear policy changes, and deepening ties with the PRC making deterrence on the Korean Peninsula increasingly more complex, this is how the US and South Korea can shore up cooperative deterrence and boost alliance resilience.

A US-South Korea alliance strategic memo on reassurance and coordination for a China conflict

By Markus Garlauskas, Lauren D. Gilbert

Washington and Seoul have drawn closer together in recent years, but concerns remain about what role the alliance would play in a US-China military conflict. The US and South Korea should take these steps to address this sensitive question.

A US-South Korea alliance strategic memo on countering Beijing’s economic coercion

By Kyoko Imai, Markus Garlauskas

Economic interdependence of South Korea, United States, and other Indo-Pacific countries with China is enabling Beijing to pose threats to national security through economic coercion. To reduce these risks, Seoul and Washington should align strategies in advanced technologies, secure supply chains through trilateral cooperation with Japan, and reinforce the rules-based system in the Indo-Pacific.