A LB Steel LLC's employee manufactures a component for new Amtrak Acela trains built in partnership with Alstom in Harvey, Illinois, U.S. December 4, 2019. REUTERS/Kamil Krzaczynski

Issue Brief

Jun 12, 2025

Building for tomorrow: Preparing US industry to compete in a lower-carbon global economy

By David L. Goldwyn, Andrea Clabough

The question for US policymakers is not whether to compete, but how.

Energy & Environment
Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Jun 11, 2025

Reprogramming the future: The specialized semiconductors reshaping the global supply chain

By Celine Lee, Andrew Kidd, and Bruce Schneier

Within three years, Chinese investments in a critical and specialized type of semiconductor—field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs)—are likely to drive many US firms out of the market. To counter this, the United States will need to significantly increase its own investment efforts.

China
Technology & Innovation

Issue Brief

Jun 10, 2025

Marine energy: Harnessing the power of the Atlantic

By William Yancey Brown

In partnership with the Policy Center for the New South, the Atlantic Council’s Africa Center is launching a new series of publications and events dedicated to the power of the Atlantic ocean with an inaugural policy brief on energy and mineral potential.

Africa
Critical Minerals
Cranes atop a building. Dabust Soh/Unsplash

Issue Brief

Jun 9, 2025

Why Congress must reauthorize the US Development Finance Corporation

By Enrique Millán-Mejía, Martin Cassinelli

Congress has an opportunity to give the United States tools to create jobs at home and strengthen ties overseas. Updating the Development Finance Corporation and reauthorizing it before the October deadline are the first steps.

Americas
Economy & Business

Issue Brief

Jun 6, 2025

How Japanese economic statecraft has shifted from promotion to protection

By Charles Lichfield

Japan is in a geopolitically challenging neighborhood and is witnessing the basic tenets of its foreign policy—from alignment with the United States to fostering a rules-based environment—come under unprecedented stress.

East Asia
Economic Sanctions
Cover image for Keeping China at bay and critical minerals stocked: The case for US-Africa defense collaboration

Report

Jun 6, 2025

Keeping China at bay and critical minerals stocked: The case for US-Africa defense collaboration

By Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu

As Russia, China, and other authoritarian powers expand their global reach, US security is at stake. To stay competitive, the United States must turn to Africa—for both critical minerals and partnership in countering rising adversarial influence on the continent.

Africa
Critical Minerals

Issue Brief

Jun 5, 2025

Immediate steps that Europe can take to enhance its role in NATO defense

By Franklin D. Kramer, Kristen Taylor

As NATO members gather in the Hague amid uncertainty about US commitment to the continent and concerns about Russia’s military rebuilding, what can European nations do to deter and, if necessary, defeat threats from Moscow?

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

Issue Brief

Jun 5, 2025

The world needs a maritime ‘elite league’ to combat rogue shipping

By Elisabeth Braw

Geopolitical tensions are undermining the mostly apolitical system that has regulated shipping since the 1950s, but hazards remain on the high seas. Countries interested in curtailing the rise of shadow vessels and the associated risks of accidents and environmental damage should band together to keep their waters places where the highest standards apply.

Economy & Business
International Organizations

Issue Brief

Jun 4, 2025

US interests can benefit from stronger congressional ties with the Caribbean  

By Wazim Mowla, Maite Gonzalez Latorre

The US has a northern border, a southern border, and a third border: The Caribbean. Inconsistent US policies have weakened ties. Stronger and more consistent congressional engagement can build lasting cooperation, safeguard US interests, and support regional growth.

Caribbean
Economy & Business
British Army soldiers during Steadfast Dart 25, the Allied Reaction Force’s first large-scale exercise, in Romania on February 17, 2025. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)/Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/nato/54354207050/in/album-72177720324100561.

Issue Brief

Jun 2, 2025

For NATO in 2027, European leadership will be key to deterrence against Russia

By Scott Lee, Andrew Michta, Peter Jones, and Lisa Bembenick

NATO lacks the operational integration, logistics, and joint force capabilities needed to quickly counter Russian mass and tempo near its borders. With the United States increasingly focused elsewhere, how can the Alliance retain military superiority in 2027 without overreliance on US military might?

Defense Policy
Europe & Eurasia

Report

Jun 2, 2025

The fall of Assad has opened a door. But can Syria seize the moment?

By Qutaiba Idlbi, Charles Lister, and Marie Forestier

This report presents a realistic and holistic vision for Syria’s transition, recovery, and its reintegration into the international system.

Civil Society
Crisis Management

Issue Brief

May 30, 2025

New presidents and new nuclear developments test the United States–Republic of Korea alliance

By Heather Kearney, Amanda Mortwedt Oh

In the coming years, the US-South Korea (Republic of Korea, or ROK) alliance is likely to be tested in at least three fundamental ways: by a concerning growth in North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile weapons program; by changes to ROK defense capabilities and structures, including the establishment of ROK Strategic Command (ROKSTRATCOM); and by potential strategy and policy changes under new US and ROK political administrations.

Arms Control
Elections

Annual Report

May 30, 2025

2024 honor roll of contributors

By the Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council is grateful for the generous support of its partners. Explore the 2024 honor roll of contributions.

Issue Brief

May 30, 2025

The frontier is the front line: On climate resilience for infrastructure and supplies in Canada’s Arctic

By Jeffrey Reynolds, Kristen Taylor

The front lines of strategic competition now run through the Arctic. Ottawa must do more to enhance its military readiness and infrastructure preparedness in the region.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Defense Policy

Report

May 29, 2025

Why Latin America and the Caribbean matter for OECD countries

By Jason Marczak, Martin Cassinelli

Latin America and the Caribbean are increasingly vital partners for OECD countries, offering critical minerals, food security, and clean energy assets. With democratic institutions, open markets, and active multilateral engagement, the region supports global resilience. Strengthened OECD–LAC cooperation can advance shared goals in economic security amid shifting global dynamics.

Americas
Caribbean
A view shows buildings behind a street of the Gombe area, ahead of the announcement of provisional results of the December presidential election, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo December 30, 2023.

Issue Brief

May 23, 2025

Beyond critical minerals: Capitalizing on the DRC’s vast opportunities

By Rabah Arezki

As major powers contend for access to Kinshasa’s mineral wealth and Washington seeks to broker a peace deal with Rwanda, the DRC and its partners have a chance to aim high, and channel the country’s resource wealth into good governance, infrastructure, and more.

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Economy & Business

Report

May 20, 2025

The European Union Growth Plan for the Western Balkans: A reality test for EU enlargement

By Valbona Zeneli, Richard Grieveson, Isabelle Ioannides, Dimitar Bechev

EU enlargement faces a test case in the Western Balkans. The current plan offers real benefits before accession, creating incentives for reform, but questions of enforceability and the relatively low amount of financial support threaten the success of the EU’s political influence in the region.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Russia Tomorrow

May 20, 2025

Unpacking Russia’s cyber nesting doll

By Justin Sherman

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores Russia’s wartime cyber operations and broader cyber web.

Cybersecurity
Digital Policy

Issue Brief

May 14, 2025

The United States’ role in managing the nuclear fuel cycle

By Kemal Pasamehmetoglu

Global nuclear energy generation is likely to increase significantly in the next few decades. This expansion provides an opportunity for the United States to shape the global nuclear energy landscape and set a high bar for standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation for the nuclear fuel cycle.

Climate Change & Climate Action
Critical Minerals

Report

May 12, 2025

A rising nuclear double-threat in East Asia: Insights from our Guardian Tiger I and II tabletop exercises

By Markus Garlauskas, Lauren D. Gilbert, Kyoko Imai

A decade from now, the United States will face even tougher challenges in the Indo-Pacific than it does today. With this in mind, the Atlantic Council’s Guardian Tiger tabletop exercise series is preparing mid-level government and military leaders to address such threats.

Arms Control
China
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