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.

Stay updated

Stay up to date with our analysis and events

Strategy

Atlantic Council Strategy Papers

The Atlantic Council Strategy Papers series is the Atlantic Council’s flagship outlet for publishing high-level, strategic thinking. The series seeks to develop and promote sustainable, nonpartisan strategies on the most important challenges facing the United States and its allies.

Atlantic Council Strategy Consortium

The Atlantic Council Strategy Consortium meets quarterly to create an ecosystem of strategists from diverse sectors—think tanks, academia, government, private sector—who, by working together, can promote strategy development and strategic thinking in support of the Atlantic Council’s mission.

So What’s the Strategy?

“So What’s the Strategy?” is an original ACTV interview series hosted by Atlantic Council Vice President and Senior Director of the Scowcroft Center Matthew Kroenig that explores US and allied strategies for addressing critical national security challenges.

Latest Strategy In-Depth Analysis and Reports

GeoStrategy Initiative

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
GeoStrategy Initiative

Issue Brief Jun 25, 2024

A global strategy to secure UAS supply chains

By Matthew Kroenig, Imran Bayoumi

China exercises substantial control over the commercial drone market, which poses a security challenge for the United States and its allies and partners. What strategy will help the United States and its allies and partners counter China’s drone-market dominance?
China Defense Industry
GeoStrategy Initiative

Issue Brief Mar 14, 2024

Leveraging generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals

By Jeffrey Cimmino, Andrew A. Michta

The United States and its allies must leverage generative artificial intelligence to outcompete strategic rivals.
China International Organizations

Latest Strategy Articles and Insights

GeoStrategy Initiative

New Atlanticist Dec 17, 2024

The United States must revisit the basics of geostrategy

By Andrew A. Michta

It’s time to return to realism in US national security policy, putting hard power considerations and geopolitics front and center.
China National Security
GeoStrategy Initiative

New Atlanticist Jun 11, 2025

Carney’s ‘hinge moment’ is about more than just Canadian defense spending. What does that mean for Washington?

By Imran Bayoumi

The Canadian prime minister gave his first major defense and security speech on June 9, describing an unraveling international order and an increasingly unreliable United States.
NATO Politics & Diplomacy

Latest Strategy Events

Online Event Wed, October 30, 2024 • 2:00 pm ET

Elections 2024: Congressman Mike Turner on geopolitics and the next US president

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Congressman Mike Turner, chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, lays out his expectations of the foreign policy challenges facing the next administration and what lies ahead for the 119th Congress.
Economy & Business Elections Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society
Online Event Mon, October 28, 2024 • 11:00 am ET

Elections 2024: Rep. Waltz on leadership and the future of US foreign policy

Congressman Mike Waltz discusses the future of Republican foreign policy and insights from his book, Hard Truths: Think and Lead Like a Green Beret.

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society Security & Defense United States and Canada
Public Event Thu, October 10, 2024 • 11:15 am ET

Elections 2024: Sen. Mark Warner on the global risks facing the next president

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—The Virginia lawmaker outlines how a future administration can prepare for and respond to geopolitical challenges.
Economy & Business Elections Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

Foresight

Global Foresight

The Global Foresight series is the Atlantic Council’s annual foresight report that assesses global trends and drivers of change impacting the complex and unpredictable future for the next year and decade ahead, including a global survey, expert survey analysis, scenarios, one-year outlooks, and “snow leopards”

Food security in the Western Hemisphere

“Food security: Strategic alignment in the Americas” explores why food security should be a national, regional, and hemispheric policy priority for the Americas—and how the Western Hemisphere can build resilient, stable, and sustainable food systems amid geopolitical tension, trade barriers, and climate disruptions.

US-China technology competition in the Global South

“Emerging technologies and great-power competition in the Global South ” assesses the nuanced landscape of US-China competition in the Global South and decipher China’s end goal to out-compete and out-maneuver China around the world in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.

Latest Foresight In-Depth Analysis and Reports

GeoStrategy Initiative

Report Aug 1, 2025

Defining Canada’s threat landscape: Resetting for a new reality

By Peter Engelke, Ginger Matchett, Samantha Wong

In a changing strategic landscape, Canada must reinforce its national security and confront the threats of geopolitics, climate change, and emerging technology.
Climate Change & Climate Action Defense Policy
GeoStrategy Initiative

Issue Brief Jul 1, 2025

A US framework for assessing risk in critical mineral supply chains

By Reed Blakemore, Peter Engelke

Critical mineral risks to US national and economic security should be evaluated on a mineral-by mineral basis
Energy & Environment
GeoStrategy Initiative

Report Apr 16, 2025

Navigating the US-PRC tech competition in the Global South

By Cole McFaul, Peter Engelke

A landscape report analyzing China’s strategic tech engagements with the Global South and how the US can compete.
Africa Artificial Intelligence

Latest Foresight Articles and Insights

GeoStrategy Initiative

New Atlanticist Jul 15, 2025

How Canada can become a global food security superpower

By Ginger Matchett, Peter Engelke

Policymakers and business leaders will need to make significant progress across four specific areas to propel Canadian agriculture forward.
Economy & Business Resilience & Society
GeoStrategy Initiative

New Atlanticist Jun 5, 2025

How to improve Latin America’s agri-food security in a changing world

By Ginger Matchett, Peter Engelke

The uninterrupted flow of trade in food and agriculture is not guaranteed. Leaders in the Americas should strengthen the region’s agri-food architecture.
Economy & Business Latin America
GeoStrategy Initiative

Strategic Insights Memo Nov 20, 2024

Assessing US-China tech competition in the Global South

By Hanna Dohmen

Discover how China is attempting to gain influence through technology competition in artificial intelligence (AI).
Artificial Intelligence China

Latest Foresight events

Online Event Wed, April 16, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Navigating the US-PRC tech competition in the Global South

How can the US compete with China on AI in the Global South? A panel of experts discusses a new report on navigating the tech competition.
Africa Artificial Intelligence China Latin America
Public Event Thu, January 18, 2024 • 1:00 pm ET

Global Foresight 2024: What will the next decade bring?

A moderated conversation, in partnership with the Financial Times, on the biggest drivers of global change in the next ten years.
Energy & Environment Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society Security & Defense
Public Event Wed, October 18, 2023 • 10:00 am ET

Combating food insecurity and malnutrition: A national security imperative

A moderated conversation, in partnership with the Eleanor Crook Foundation, on the nexus of food, nutrition, and national security.
Civil Society National Security Politics & Diplomacy Resilience
All GeoStrategy Initiative Analysis and Events

Staff

Staff

Tressa Guenov

Director, Programs and Operations and Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Staff

Peter Engelke

Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Global Energy Center

Technology & Innovation

Staff

Imran Bayoumi

Associate Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Staff

Sydney Sherry

Assistant Director

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Resilience & Society

Staff

Ginger Matchett

Program Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

Africa Americas

Staff

Sarah Wallace

Program Assistant

Adrienne Arsht National Security Resilience Initiative GeoStrategy Initiative

French Human Rights

Fellows

Fellow

Alexander Alden

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy English

Fellow

Marino Auffant

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Fellow

Christian Bjørn Følsgaard

Senior Advisor

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Fellow

Shawn Creamer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Security & Defense East Asia

Fellow

Tobias Ellwood

Distinguished Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Fellow

Maureen Farrell

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Africa East Africa

Fellow

Nathan Freier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

Aleksandra Gadzala Tirziu

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Economy & Business Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Alexander B. Gray

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Fellow

Greg Lindsay

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

National Security Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Tom Mancinelli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Jamie Metzl

Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Technologies

Fellow

Andrew A. Michta

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Fellow

Paul D. Miller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Pakistan

Fellow

Patrick Quirk

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center GeoStrategy Initiative

Civil Society Conflict

Fellow

John Raidt

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Middle East Security & Defense

Fellow

Megan Reiss

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

National Security Security & Defense

Fellow

Amanda J. Rothschild

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Iran
saffo paul

Former fellow

Paul Saffo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Digital Policy Internet of Things

Fellow

Conrad Tucker

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Science and Policy

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Technology & Innovation

Fellow

Laura Updegrove

Nonresident Senior Fellow, GeoStrategy Initiative

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense

Fellow

Alex Wagner

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Human Rights National Security

Fellow

Caroline Zier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Policy Security & Defense

Stay Connected

Explore the program

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.

Learn more

Content

In the News

Feb 26, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive on the impact of EU climate policies on Europe’s economy  

On February 15, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on the effect of the European Union’s climate policies on Europe’s economy. He argues that the European Union’s “overly-ambitious emissions reduction targets” and “rigid climate policy” have stagnated European economic growth and overly burdened its corporations.  

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Feb 19, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive on the impact of EU climate policies on Europe’s economy  

On February 15, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on the effect of the European Union’s climate policies on Europe’s economy. He argues that the European Union’s “overly-ambitious emissions reduction targets” and “rigid climate policy” have stagnated European economic growth and overly burdened its corporations.  

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Testimony

Feb 18, 2025

Matthew Kroenig testifies to the House Committee on Homeland Security on China’s strategic port investments in the Western Hemisphere 

On February 11, 2025, Atlantic Council Vice President and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Senior Director Matthew Kroenig testified before the US House Committee on Homeland Security on China’s strategic port investments in the Western Hemisphere, drawing on recommendations from the Atlantic Council Strategy Paper titled A Strategy to Counter Malign Chinese and Russian […]

China Infrastructure Protection

In the News

Feb 13, 2025

Creamer featured by the National Bureau of Asian Reseach on US national preparedness

On February 13, Shawn Creamer, nonresident senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative and Indo-Pacific Security Initiative, was featured by the National Bureau of Asian Research where he called on the US to develop a national strategy that clearly defines what victory looks like in future conflicts. Creamer emphasized the need to reinvest in national preparedness […]

Crisis Management Resilience & Society

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Global Foresight 2025

In this year’s Global Foresight edition, our experts share findings from our survey of global strategists on how human affairs could unfold over the next decade. Our team of next-generation scholars spot “snow leopards” that could have major unexpected impacts in 2025 and beyond. And our foresight practitioners imagine three different scenarios for the next decade.

Civil Society Climate Change & Climate Action

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

The Global Foresight 2025 survey: Full results

In the fall of 2024 after the outcome of the US presidential election, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security surveyed the future, asking leading global strategists and foresight practitioners around the world to answer our most burning questions about the biggest drivers of change over the next ten years. Here are the full results.

Africa China

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Six ‘snow leopards’ to watch for in 2025

By Emily Milliken, Imran Bayoumi, Ginger Matchett, Srujan Palkar, Sydney Sherry

Atlantic Council foresight experts spot the underappreciated phenomena that could have outsized impact on the world, driving global change and shaping the future.

Civil Society Climate Change & Climate Action

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Welcome to 2035: What the world could look like in ten years, according to more than 350 experts

In the fall of 2024 after the outcome of the US presidential election, the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security surveyed the future, asking leading global strategists and foresight practitioners around the world to answer our most burning questions about the biggest drivers of change over the next ten years. Here are the full results.

Africa China

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Feb 12, 2025

Three worlds in 2035: Imagining scenarios for how the world could be transformed over the next decade

2024 was marked by increased climate shocks and collaboration of autocratic adversaries. What will the world look like in the next decade? The Atlantic Council’s top experts brought their globe-spanning expertise to the task of forecasting three different scenarios for the future.

Africa China

In the News

Jan 22, 2025

Michta in 19FortyFive on why abandoning Europe would be a strategic mistake

On January 10, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, was published in 19FortyFive on why abandoning Europe would be a strategic mistake for the United States. He argues that US geostrategic and national security interests are entangled with that of Europe’s and to allow allies in Europe to be “pulled into China’s orbit” […]

Europe & Eurasia National Security
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