Europe & Eurasia

Europe & Eurasia

Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the mountains of Central Asia, the European and Eurasian landmass contains both some of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world, as well as some of the poorest and those led by repressive regimes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022 has transformed the region’s security and launched economic, political, and defense issues into the global limelight, emphasizing the necessity of increased regional and transatlantic cooperation.

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Featured Reading

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

Inflection Points
Jun 26, 2026

Secretary General Mark Rutte on Trump, Europe, and the future of NATO

By
Frederick Kempe

Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe sits down with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

Dispatches
May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By
Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn’t stop Washington’s other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe
Europe & Eurasia

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series
May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By
the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council’s Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland
Northern Europe

featured events

Online Event
Thu, June 25, 2026 • 1:45 pm ET

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the Ankara summit agenda

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte lays out his priorities for the upcoming Ankara summit.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO
United States and Canada


Public Event
Wed, November 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Intent to destroy: Confronting Russia’s campaign to erase Ukraine and its people

In this conference hosted by the Strategic Litigation Project and the Eurasia Center, experts will identify strategies to halt Russia’s campaign of atrocities against the Ukrainian people.

Civil Society
Conflict
Crisis Management
Security & Defense


The Russia Tomorrow series

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 challenged much of the common Western understanding of Russia. How can the world better understand Russia? What are the steps forward for Western policy? The Eurasia Center’s new “Russia Tomorrow” series seeks to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow.

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Russia Tomorrow

The CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

by Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners–united not by shared values, but by shared grievances–on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In-depth Research & reports

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

Russia Tomorrow
Dec 12, 2025

The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization 

By
Elina Ribakova, Lucas Risinger

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Russian wartime economy.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

Report
Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By
Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

programs

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Explore the Power Vertical podcast

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Explore the Debrief series

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series


#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Content

French snipers, February 16, 2012

NATOSource

Jul 22, 2014

Shouldn’t Europe Pay More for its Own Defense?

By Graham Allison, Los Angeles Times

Two decades after the end of the Cold War, the twin trends of overdependence on U.S. power and underinvestment in military might have left European defenses at risk of becoming dangerously irrelevant.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Karatnycky on New EU Sanctions

By Adrian Karatnycky

USA Today quotes Transatlantic Relations Program Nonresident Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky on new sanctions imposed against Russia by the European Union:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Chalupa on the Pro-Russian Separatist Leader of Donetsk

By Irene Chalupa

The Washington Post quotes Atlantic Council Writer/Editor Irene Chalupa on Alexander Borodai, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the pro-Russian separatist Donetsk People’s Republic:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Ullman: The X-Gen Men at 1600 and Number 10

By Harlan Ullman

Brent Scowcroft Center Senior Adviser Harlan Ullman writes for UPI on similarities between President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron: 

United Kingdom

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Wilson on Role of Separatists in MH17 Downing

By Damon Wilson

Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson joins BBC World News to discuss the role of pro-Russian separatists in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Gramer: Collateral Damage

By Robert Gramer

Brent Scowcroft Center Program Assistant Robert Gramer writes for the HIll on the US-Germany spying scandal: 

Germany

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Pham on Flying Over Unstable Territory

By J. Peter Pham

The Associated Press quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on the dangers that the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 illustrates in flights over unstable territory:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Herbst: “If Putin Wins in Eastern Ukraine, He’s Not Going to Stop”

By John Herbst

The Minneapolis Star Tribune quotes Eurasia Center Director John Herbst on what actions Europe should take against Russian President Vladimir Putin following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17:

Russia Ukraine

In the News

Jul 22, 2014

Herbst on Russian Media Coverage of MH17

By John Herbst

Eurasia Center Director John Herbst joins Fox’s Shepard Smith Reporting to discuss how the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 is being covered in Russian media:

Russia Ukraine

Webcasts

Jul 22, 2014

A Roadmap for Ukraine

We are pleased to invite you to our public launch event, A Roadmap for Ukraine, on Tuesday, July 22, 2014 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the Atlantic Council.

Ukraine
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Experts

Fellow

Elmar Hellendoorn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Economic Statecraft Initiative GeoEconomics Center

Defense Policy Dutch
Brittan Heller

Fellow

Brittan Heller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Americas Human Rights

Staff

John E. Herbst

Senior Director

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Christopher Hill

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

Europe & Eurasia French

Staff

Lisa Homel

Associate Director

Europe Center

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Oleksiy Honcharuk

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

Ukraine Political Reform
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Events

Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union