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Featured Reading

Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

New Atlanticist Jul 28, 2025

Trump and von der Leyen made a deal. But the US and EU are drifting apart on trade.

By Frances Burwell

Many elements of the Turnberry deal still need to be finalized, and the difficult process could drive the two sides even further apart.
Economy & Business European Union
Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

UkraineAlert Jul 14, 2025

A Western-funded drone surge could end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

By Mark Boris Andrijanič

Ukraine has the technology, talent, and industrial potential to prevail in the war with Russia, but currently lacks the funding to scale drone production to the necessary levels, writes Mark Boris Andrijanič.
Conflict Defense Technologies
Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

UkraineAlert Jul 13, 2025

Ukraine Recovery Conference: Europe underlines long-term commitment

By Edward Verona

The 2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference, which took place in Rome on July 10-11, has provided a clear demonstration of continued European commitment to Ukraine, writes Edward Verona.
Conflict Drones

featured events

Online Event Thu, July 31, 2025 • 11:00 am ET

Unpacking the new US-EU trade deal

Experts discuss the new agreement announced on Sunday and what it means for transatlantic trade going forward.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union Trade and tariffs
Online Event Mon, July 14, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

Report launch: Russia’s future rulers

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores the rising generation in the Kremlin-connected elite and what this shift means for Russia’s future.
Corruption Europe & Eurasia Politics & Diplomacy Populism

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 next generation: Russia’s future rulers

by Mikhail Zygar

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores the rising generation in the Kremlin-connected elite and what this shift means for Russia’s future.

In-depth Research & reports

Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

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
Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

Russia Tomorrow Jan 8, 2025

Sanctioned kleptocracy: How Putin’s kremligarchs have survived the war—and even prospered

By Ilya Zaslavskiy

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series explores how Russia’s kleptocratic networks infiltrated the West and measures the US and Europe can take to combat the malign influence of Russian kleptocracy around the globe.
Corruption Economic Sanctions

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

In the News

Apr 2, 2025

Gen Kevin P. Chilton, USAF (ret.), featured on the Mitchell Institute’s Commander panel

By Atlantic Council

On March 31, Forward Defense distinguished fellow Kevin P. Chilton was featured on the Mitchell Institute’s panel, “Setting the Nuclear Deterrence Record Straight: Commanders’ Perspectives.” On the panel, he joined former US Strategic Command commanders Gen. Robert Kehler, USAF (Ret.), and Adm. Charles A. Richard, USN (Ret.), to discuss the realities of nuclear deterrence today. Additionally, […]

China Defense Industry

MENASource

Apr 2, 2025

​Libya’s political deadlock endures. There is a case for Trump and Meloni to challenge the status quo.

By Yaseen Rashed

The political crisis in Libya is one that the US and Italy may be uniquely postured, and incentivized, to quell.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

UkraineAlert

Apr 1, 2025

Russian advance slows in March as Putin’s invasion loses momentum

By Peter Dickinson

Putin says his invading army is now poised to "finish off" the Ukrainian military, but in reality Russian forces continued to lose momentum in March 2025, with the Kremlin’s territorial gains reportedly falling for a fourth consecutive month, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Industry

GeoTech Cues

Apr 1, 2025

DeepSeek shows the US and EU the costs of failing to govern AI

By Ryan Pan, Kolja Verhage

The West must urgently consider what DeepSeek’s R1 model means for the future of democracy in the AI era.

Artificial Intelligence China

UkraineAlert

Apr 1, 2025

Peace on Putin’s terms would lead to a new era of international insecurity

By Oleksandr Merezhko

As Trump seeks to end the war in Ukraine, it is apparent that any peace on Putin’s terms would signal the dawn of a dangerous new era marked by mounting instability, international aggression, and the looming threat of nuclear war, writes Oleksandr Merezhko.

China Conflict

New Atlanticist

Apr 1, 2025

The EU just released a roadmap to defend Europe. Will member states follow it?

By Petr Tůma

To implement the European Commission’s defense readiness report, EU member states must make significant financial commitments and navigate the bloc’s political divisions.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Apr 1, 2025

Still no consensus on using frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine

By Mark Temnycky

Western leaders are still unable to reach a consensus on the use of around $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to finance the Ukrainian war effort, writes Mark Temnycky.

Conflict Economic Sanctions

EnergySource

Mar 31, 2025

The future of global energy policy is abundance 

By Charles Hendry

The United States and Europe are diverging on energy policy, with the United States prioritizing low costs and economic growth while the United Kingdom and the European Union focus on decarbonization. But reconciling these approaches is possible through the lens of energy abundance—each country must leverage its most plentiful resources to drive down costs, enhance security, and support sustainability without burdening consumers.

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Issue Brief

Mar 31, 2025

Why NATO’s Defence Planning Process will transform the Alliance for decades to come

By Angus Lapsley and Pierre Vandier

NATO’s successes over the last seventy-six years are the result of constant adaptation, and the Alliance is now going through its most profound changes since the end of the Cold War.

Europe & Eurasia International Organizations

In the News

Mar 31, 2025

Irdi quoted in Bloomberg on backlash against Prime Minister Meloni

By Beniamino Irdi

On March 31, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Beniamino Irdi was quoted in Bloomberg discussing the backlash against Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for her attempts to appease the US Administration.

Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Leon Leskovec

Head of Cabinet for Karlo Ressler, Member of the European Parliament

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Politics & Diplomacy

Fellow

Jeffrey Hovenier

Nonresident senior fellow

Europe Center

Croatian Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Nathan Freier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

William B. Taylor

Distinguished Fellow

Eurasia Center

English Europe & Eurasia

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Lukasz Lisicki

Policy Assistant to the Director-General for Energy, European Commission

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Energy & Environment

Fellow

Rza Aliyev

Nonresident Senior Fellow, N7 Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Azerbaijani Central Asia
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Events

Online Event Fri, August 15, 2025 • 8:00 am ET

US-Japan global partnership in Central Asia
Central Asia China Energy & Environment Japan
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