About the program

The GeoStrategy Initiative, housed within the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, utilizes long-range foresight and strategy development to understand a complex and unpredictable world. Through its work, the initiative strives to revitalize, adapt, and defend a rules-based international system in order to foster peace, prosperity, and freedom for decades to come.

Core pillars

  • Develop sustainable, nonpartisan, forward-leaning strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and its allies and partners through the Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series, Strategy Consortium, and So What’s The Strategy?
  • Map global security landscapes, identifying challenges and opportunities for strengthening alliances and partnerships with like-minded democracies and deterring authoritarian influence from China and Russia.
  • Assess global trends and drivers of change impacting the complex and unpredictable future for years to come through Global Foresight.
  • Improve human security for a more collaborative, peaceful, prosperous, and free world, pioneering work on food, water, and climate security.

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The Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security works to develop sustainable, nonpartisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States and the world.

Content

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

In the News

May 29, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive, RealClearDefense, and RealClearWorld on Putin’s strategic objectives in Ukraine

On May 29, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambition to restore “Russia’s imperial dominion.” He argues the Trump administration has failed to bring an end to the war in Ukraine because it does not fully grasp Putin’s worldview and warns that diminishing support […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

May 29, 2025

Metzl featured on Fox News on antisemitism, student visa policy, and US competitiveness

On May 29, Jamie Metzl, nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, appeared on Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade Show to discuss antisemitism on college campuses and the Trump administration’s student visa policies. He argued that policymakers must address the rise of malign influence on US campuses while ensuring that universities remain engines of economic growth […]

Education Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

May 29, 2025

Metzl discusses US student visa policy on CNN’s NewsNight

On May 29, Jamie Metzl, nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, appeared on CNN’s NewsNight with Abby Phillip to discuss US visa policy. He emphasized the importance of thoroughly vetting individuals entering the country while also highlighting the need to retain top global talent. Metzl noted that doing so is critical to maintaining US […]

China Migration

In the News

May 27, 2025

Michta featured in RealClearDefense on concrete actions to strengthen NATO’s resolve amid shifting geopolitics  

On May 21, 2025, Andew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was highlighted in RealClearDefense on a report on how NATO can deter Russian aggression without an overreliance on US military power, which he co-authored with Scott Lee, Peter Jones, and Lisa Bembenick of MITRE. The authors argue that, as the United States pivots […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Magnified US dollar bill

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

May 20, 2025

Why the US cannot afford to lose dollar dominance

By Martin Mühleisen, Valbona Zeneli

Since World War II, US geopolitical influence has been compounded by the role of the dollar as the world’s dominant currency. As global economic power becomes more diffuse and strategic competitors “dedollarize,” policymakers must determine how to maintain the dollar’s role at the center of global trade and financial networks.

Economy & Business Fiscal and Structural Reform

In the News

May 12, 2025

Bayoumi on US-Canada relations after Carney’s election victory

On May 9, Imran Bayoumi, associate director at the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an op-ed on MSNBC outlining opportunities for collaboration between Washington and Ottawa after Mark Carney was elected prime minister. He emphasizes that defense spending and Arctic security are critical areas for enhanced bilateral cooperation.

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

In the News

Apr 29, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive and RealClearDefense on how a growing ideological gap across the Atlantic threatens NATO 

On April 26, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on the increasingly distant relations between Washington and Brussels that threaten to harm the future of the transatlantic alliance. He argues that the tensions between the United States and Europe are not merely based on policy but instead represent fundamental […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fast Thinking

Apr 29, 2025

Canada’s voters send a message to Washington—and the world

By Atlantic Council

Our experts explain what the Liberals’ election victory means for Canada’s relations with Washington and approach to foreign policy.

Economy & Business Elections

In the News

Apr 21, 2025

Michta interviewed on the Focus podcast on European security as the war in Ukraine continues

On April 21, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was interviewed on the Focus podcast on the future of NATO amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the transatlantic relationship. He argues that, to counter Russian aggression and remain competitive against other foreign threats, European defense must work in tandem with the US.  

Europe & Eurasia NATO