stay updated

Featured Reading

Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

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
Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

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
Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

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

Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

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
Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

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.

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

New Atlanticist

Jan 20, 2023

Like it or not, Europe can only tackle its big challenges with Franco-German consensus

By Marie Jourdain, Jörn Fleck

The January 22 France-Germany summit, amid bumpy relations between the two powers, comes at a pivotal time for Europe and the transatlantic alliance.

Defense Policy Energy & Environment

Report

Jan 20, 2023

China and the new globalization

By Franklin D. Kramer

The unitary globalized economy no longer exists. Driven in significant part by security considerations, a new and more diverse globalization is both required and being built. The transition is ongoing, and its final form is yet to be determined.

China Economy & Business

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series

Jan 20, 2023

Six ‘snow leopards’ to watch for in 2023 

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

Brazil China

In the News

Jan 19, 2023

Khakova quoted in The Economist on Ukraine war connections in the Baltic region
Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Jan 19, 2023

Wieslander in Carnegie Europe’s “Judy Asks: Is European strategic autonomy over?”

“Yes, at least in the short term, it seems as if ‘reality killed the cat,'” wrote Wieslander. “Already before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, France adopted a more sobering stance…The recent EU initiatives on defense tend to be complementary to NATO and draw on the particular strengths of the union, which is a step in […]

NATO Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Jan 18, 2023

Putin’s nuclear blackmail must not prevent the liberation of Crimea

By Andriy Zagorodnyuk

Putin's nuclear threats have led some analysts to argue against attempts to liberate Crimea but bowing down to the Russian dictator's nuclear blackmail would have dire consequences for global security, writes Andriy Zagorodnyuk.

Conflict European Union

Atlantic Debrief

Jan 18, 2023

#AtlanticDebrief – What is the state of Germany’s Zeitenwende? | A Debrief from Siemtje Möller

Rachel Rizzo sits down with German Parliamentary State Secretary for Defense, Siemtje Möller, to reflect on her New Atlanticist article on Germany's Zeitenwende and discuss the latest developments on Germany's support for Ukraine.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jan 18, 2023

Dutch prime minister talks Leopard 2 tanks and other assistance to Ukraine: ‘The ask from Kyiv is completely clear’

By Nick Fouriezos

Prime Minister Mark Rutte spoke at an Atlantic Council Front Page event on Tuesday, where he discussed Ukraine, the Caribbean, China, and more.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jan 18, 2023

Scheunemann in Global National: momentum is building in support of sending tanks for Ukraine

By Leah Scheunemann

Leah Scheunemann was quoted in Global National around 5:58 discussing how momentum is building in support of sending tanks for Ukraine to use in defense of its homeland.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jan 17, 2023

How Europe can help Ukraine defeat Russia and win the peace in 2023

By Andreas Umland

Continued European support for Ukraine will be crucial in 2023 and must feature a combination of intensification and innovation if Vladimir Putin's invasion is to be decisively defeated, writes Andreas Umland.

Conflict Economic Sanctions
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Katerina Sokou

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

English European Union

Millennium fellow

Olena Sotnyk

Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine

Millennium Leadership Program

Human Rights Political Reform

Fellow

Stefano Stefanini

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jeremy Stern

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

China Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Marc-Olivier Strauss-Kahn

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoEconomics Center

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Millennium fellow

Ludovic Subran

Chief Economist, Allianz

Millennium Leadership Program

Economy & Business European Union
Load More

Events

Online Event Wed, July 2, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

How to bridge the trust gap to drive the Western Balkans’ EU integration
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Political Reform
Online Event Thu, July 3, 2025 • 8:00 am ET

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Europe’s security after the NATO Summit

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Finnish President Alexander Stubb shares his conclusions from the NATO Summit in The Hague and how Europe must adapt its approach to security.

Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia European Union
Online Event Fri, July 11, 2025 • 10:30 am ET

What comes next for transatlantic trade
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs
Load More