TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

By Kristen Taylor

The Transatlantic Security Initiative’s NATO defense spending tracker delves into data and figures to analyze current defense spending trends.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

FEATURED READING

Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

New Atlanticist Jun 27, 2025

Four fundamental questions the NATO Summit did not answer

By Torrey Taussig

Over the coming months, NATO allies will have to wrestle with questions about the US commitment to Europe, their shared approach to China, and more.
Conflict Defense Industry
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

Inflection Points Jun 26, 2025

Dispatch from The Hague: It’s been Trump’s week in Europe and Iran

By Frederick Kempe

What connects the recent events in Iran and at the NATO Summit is that they won’t be remembered for the threats countered but rather for the opportunities seized.
Europe & Eurasia Iran
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

Fast Thinking Jun 25, 2025

Trump warmed to NATO at The Hague. But what about Ukraine?

By Atlantic Council

Allies reiterated their commitment to collective defense. But absent from the communiqué was any mention of how Russia’s war against Ukraine should end.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

New Atlanticist Jun 25, 2025

Experts react: NATO allies agreed to a 5 percent defense spending target in a low-drama summit. Now what?

By Atlantic Council experts

The Alliance summit was notable for what was said and done, especially about defense spending—but also for what was left off the agenda.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

Inflection Points Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from The Hague: How Trump can build on his Middle East success with NATO

By Frederick Kempe

As the Alliance summit begins, the US president can already justifiably trumpet three major achievements in the Middle East. Will he add one more in Europe?
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

New Atlanticist Jun 23, 2025

Expect NATO’s new spending pledge to be overshadowed by weakening US commitment and inaction on Ukraine

By Ian Brzezinski, Ryan Arick

The Hague summit will ultimately be defined by what the US president communicates about his commitment to transatlantic security and what NATO allies do to support Ukraine.
Defense Policy NATO
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

New Atlanticist Jun 20, 2025

What counts as ‘defense’ in NATO’s potential 5 percent spending goal?

By John R. Deni, Ryan Arick

The Alliance must ensure that “defense related” items truly contribute to collective defense as it plans its new, larger spending goal.
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

Issue Brief Jun 5, 2025

Immediate steps that Europe can take to enhance its role in NATO defense

By Franklin D. Kramer, Kristen Taylor

As NATO members gather in the Hague amid uncertainty about US commitment to the continent and concerns about Russia’s military rebuilding, what can European nations do to deter and, if necessary, defeat threats from Moscow?
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

New Atlanticist Jun 5, 2025

What explains the transatlantic rift? It’s all about threat perception.

By Jason Davidson

NATO allies’ differing threat perceptions provide the backdrop for what could be a contentious summit in The Hague this month.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

FEATURED EVENTS

Online Event Thu, July 3, 2025 • 4:00 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, June 20, 2025 • 4:00 pm ET

Sweden’s foreign minister on the 2025 NATO Summit agenda

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the NATO Summit and the future of transatlantic relations.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Northern Europe Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, June 10, 2025 • 12:00 pm ET

Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Russia’s war and The Hague summit

Shaheen joins Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio for a conversation on the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague and US policy on Russia and Ukraine.
Conflict International Organizations NATO
Public Event Wed, May 14, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era of NATO

A discussion on navigating a new era of NATO in today’s shifting geopolitical environment.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense United States and Canada

TUNE IN

Programs and initiatives

The Transatlantic Security Initiative, in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, shapes and influences the debate on the greatest security challenges facing the North Atlantic Alliance and its key partners.

Learn more

Content

In the News

Apr 30, 2022

Wieslander quoted by Washington Post on the expected Finnish NATO application

By Anna Wieslander

With Finland expected to join NATO, the High-North and Baltic Sea region “will all be one military-strategic arena now, especially if you look from the Russian side,” said Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council. “Putin miscalculated,” she said. “This is not what he foresaw.”

Europe & Eurasia
NATO
Screenshot of footage from a Russian report on a supposed Ukrainian missile downed in Kherson. (SOURCE: Izvestia)

New Atlanticist

Apr 29, 2022

Russian War Report: Questions around metadata on video of Kherson explosion aftermath

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

In occupied Kherson, Russian media reported that Russian forces shot down a Ukrainian missile that they claim was aimed at a TV antenna, but metadata shows the report was shot hours before the explosions.

Disinformation
Eastern Europe

Fast Thinking

Apr 28, 2022

FAST THINKING: The US arms Ukraine for the long haul. Is it enough?

By Atlantic Council

Taken together, the $33 billion funding appeal and so-called Lend-Lease program will send a clear message to Russia.

Conflict
Defense Industry

In the News

Apr 28, 2022

Ashford in NPR’s On Point: The risks and rationale of expanding NATO

By Atlantic Council

On April 28, Emma Ashford was featured in NPR’s On Point to discuss the question of Finnish and Swedish membership in NATO. “Extending NATO’s tripwire right up to Russia’s borders isn’t risk free. “’It makes a lot of sense for states that have fears about Russian aggression to want to come in, particularly under the […]

Conflict
Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Apr 27, 2022

Russia Crisis Military Assessment: The race to resupply Ukraine

By Atlantic Council military fellows

Victory in the Donbas will go to whichever side seizes the advantage in offensive fires and resupply efforts, according to our military fellows.

Conflict
NATO
Plumes of smoke rise after a fire erupts at an oil depot in Bryansk, Russia April 25, 2022 in this still image obtained from social media video. Natalya Krutova via REUTERS

New Atlanticist

Apr 26, 2022

Russian War Report: Geolocating fires in Bryansk

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

On April 25, large fires were reported in Bryansk, Russia, just 100 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. DFRLab geolocated the fires to confirm an armed forces fuel depot was damaged.

Belarus
Disinformation

In the News

Apr 26, 2022

Vershbow in Fox News: Putin may soon face one of his worst strategic nightmares

By Alexander Vershbow

Alexander Vershbow discusses the strategic implications of Finland and Sweden joining NATO.

Conflict
Eastern Europe

Podcast

Apr 26, 2022

Episode 4: “Military Dilemmas in the Arctic”

Dr. David P. Auerswald, Professor of Security Studies at the U.S. National War College, takes a closer look at military activity in the Arctic and the associated risks of the region’s increased militarization.

Conflict
Maritime Security

Britain Debrief

Apr 25, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What’s at stake in France’s Presidential Election? | A Debrief from Ambassador Gérard Araud

By Ben Judah, Gérard Araud

Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviews Ambassador Gérard Araud, former French Ambassador to the US and Senior Fellow, for #BritainDebrief to discuss how this election will impact France. What is France's role in NATO? What will happen to the European Union and France-Russia relations if Le Pen wins the election?

Arms Control
Civil Society

Britain Debrief

Apr 25, 2022

#BritainDebrief – What world order comes after Ukraine? A Debrief with Patrick Porter

By Ben Judah

Senior Fellow Ben Judah interviews Patrick Porter, Senior Associate Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for #BritainDebrief to learn more about how modern alliances will change following the Russia's invasion. What will happen to Ukraine's neutrality? What dense web of complexity exists for alliances and sub-alliances in global security?

Australia
China
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Experts

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish

Advisory Council member

Clifford Sobel

Former United States Ambassador to Brazil

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business

Fellow

Jason C. Moyer

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fellow

Lisa C. Sawyer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Economy & Business

Expert

Gabrielius Landsbergis

Distinguished Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Lithuanian

Expert

Jon Wilks

Distinguished Fellow, Transatlantic Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management
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