Atlantic Council

The Atlantic Council is a think tank and public policy group in Washington, DC Its mission is to promote " constructive U.S. leadership " and U.S. engagement in international affairs based on the central role of the Atlantic community in meeting the international challenges of the 21st century.

Until his nomination as Secretary of Defense of the United States Chuck Hagel was chairman.

On January 15, 2014 Jon Huntsman Jr. took over the chairmanship of Brent Scowcroft.

History

The Atlantic Council was established in 1961. Initially, the main focus was on economic issues such as the promotion of free trade.

Apart from the publications of the Atlantic Council consisted, according to Prof. Melvin Small ( Wayne State University), especially in the first years of the Atlantic Council 's real strength in relations with influential politicians.

In February 2009, James L. Jones resigned from his position as Chairman of the Atlantic Council to serve in the Cabinet of President Obama as National Security Advisor. Susan Rice also left the Council and was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations; Richard Holbrooke was special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, General Eric K. Shinseki became minister and Anne- Marie Slaughter was Head of Department at the State Department.