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Featured Reading

Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

New Atlanticist May 27, 2025

Do Trump’s criticisms of Putin mark a turning point in his Russia policy?

By John E. Herbst

On Sunday, the US president called his Russian counterpart “crazy” on social media, revealing an increasing impatience with Russia over its unwillingness to engage in US-led cease-fire talks.
Conflict Politics & Diplomacy
Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

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
Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

Issue Brief Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

featured events

Online Event Thu, March 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The future of EU defense

Following the release of the European Union’s whitepaper on the future of European defense, an expert panel unpacks what role the EU should play in transatlantic security.
Europe & Eurasia European Union NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Tue, February 18, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

How long can Russia sustain its aggression in Ukraine?

The Eurasia Center discusses how the confluence of Russia’s war of attrition, economic decline, and energy damage impact the Russian Federation and its global standing.
Conflict Economic Sanctions Europe & Eurasia International Markets

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.

Read More

Russia Tomorrow

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.

In-depth Research & reports

Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

Report Mar 3, 2025

The art of the transatlantic deal

By Frances Burwell

The transatlantic relationship is shifting with US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Nevertheless, discreet deals across the US-EU trade, energy, and defense sectors are possible.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

Russia Tomorrow Dec 17, 2024

The reluctant consensus: War and Russia’s public opinion

By Maria Snegovaya

A new Atlantic Council report explores Russian society’s consolidation around the Kremlin and the Russian public’s perception of Putin’s war on Ukraine.
Civil Society Europe & Eurasia

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

The Atlantic Council in Turkey aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and defense.

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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.

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Content

In the News

May 11, 2023

Straus and Townsend in Breaking Defense on lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine

By James J. Townsend Jr., Ira Straus

On May 11, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior advisors Ira Straus and James J. Townsend co-authored an op-ed discussing lessons learned from Russia’s war in Ukraine and what NATO must codify from those lessons.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

May 11, 2023

Greater clarity is needed in US policy toward Ukraine

By Michael F. Oppenheimer

The US has been instrumental in rallying international support for Ukraine, but the Biden administration still needs to clarify whether it views the Russian invasion as a pivotal moment in world politics, writes Michael F. Oppenheimer.

Conflict Freedom and Prosperity

UkraineAlert

May 11, 2023

Deciphering Vladimir Putin’s unspoken Victory Day message

By Alexander Motyl

Putin's unspoken Victory Day message: The seating arrangements at this week’s parade indicate that despite the military setbacks of the past 15 months, the Russian dictator is doubling down on his goal of subjugating Ukraine.

Conflict Freedom and Prosperity

In the News

May 11, 2023

Arslan joins Bloomberg to discuss the implications of the upcoming Turkish elections
Economy & Business Geopolitics & Energy Security

In the News

May 10, 2023

Brzezinski and Vershbow in ERR News on the upcoming Vilnius Summit

By Ian Brzezinski, Alexander Vershbow

On May 10, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Ian Brzezinski and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Distinguished Fellow Alexander Vershbow were mentioned in ERR News discussing priorities the NATO Alliance must tackle at the upcoming Vilnius Summit [text in Estonian]

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

In the News

May 10, 2023

Guevara in El Heraldo de Mexico on Russian disinformation tactics

By Inigo Guevara Moyano

On May 10, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Inigo Guevara authored an article  in El Heraldo de México discussing Russia’s use of intelligence, disinformation and psychological operations.

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

May 10, 2023

Ukraine’s friends must show ‘we’ve got the grit’ in supporting its fight, says UK foreign secretary

By Katherine Golden

James Cleverly argued at an Atlantic Council Front Page event that if the West is saving its stockpiles in its "military cupboard" for a rainy day, "this is the rainy day."

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

May 10, 2023

CBDC tracker and Kumar cited by Bank of England on number of countries pursuing CBDCs and China’s e-CNY

Read the full speech here.

China Digital Currencies

In the News

May 10, 2023

Garlauskas, Webster, and Verges in RealClear Defense 

On May 9, Markus Garlauskas, Emma Verges, and Global Energy Center Fellow Joseph Webster were featured in RealClear Defense for their New Atlanticist piece on PRC support vital to Putin’s war in Ukraine. 

China Russia

Econographics

May 10, 2023

What is the G7 still exporting to Russia? 

By Niels Graham

One year into the Russia's invasion G7 nations continue to export nearly $5B a month to Moscow. A new proposal by the US at the G7 could greatly reduce this.

Economic Sanctions Economy & Business
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Experts

Fellow

Achilles Tsirgis

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business European Union

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Anna Ascani

Vice President of the Chamber, Italy Chamber of Deputies

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Education

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Osman Haneef

Head of LBS Startup Incubator & Senior Manager of Ventures, London Business School

Millennium Leadership Program

Entrepreneurship Rule of Law

Fellow

Tatiana Gfoeller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Eurasia Center

Arabic Central Asia

Fellow

Helena Fee Rasch

Visiting Fellow

Freedom and Prosperity Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Alexandre Marques Pinho

Adviser to the Minister, Portugal Ministry of Defence

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia Security & Defense
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Events

Public Event Tue, June 24, 2025 • 3:00 pm ET

2025 Freedom and Prosperity Indexes launch
Eastern Europe Freedom and Prosperity Human Rights Inclusive Growth
Flagship Event Tue, September 30, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual conference convening economic and financial leaders from both sides of the Atlantic.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union