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

If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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
If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

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

New Atlanticist

Jan 25, 2022

If Russia boosts its aggression against Ukraine, here’s what NATO could do

By Michael John Williams

NATO has no obligation to defend Ukraine, but it should make any Russian attempts to annex territory more difficult.

Conflict
Crisis Management

Fast Thinking

Jan 25, 2022

FAST THINKING: The US bets big on NATO to deter Russia

By Atlantic Council

Can the United States convince the twenty-nine other NATO members to support a troop movement in Eastern Europe?

Conflict
Crisis Management

In the News

Jan 25, 2022

Wieslander quoted in Financial Times on Sweden-Finland NATO debate

“I used to think that Sweden would have to take the lead, as we’re the biggest Nordic country. But given how the dynamics are now, I would bet more that it could start moving quicker in Helsinki than Stockholm,” said Wieslander.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Jan 24, 2022

Ashford in Responsible Statecraft: What would US intervention in Ukraine really look like?

By Atlantic Council

On January 24, Emma Ashford participated in a Responsible Statecraft symposium on what a US intervention in Ukraine would look like, warning that the Biden administration should be cautious about an overly militarized approach to the problem that could escalate into more direct conflict. “The United States isn’t going to get directly involved in defending […]

Eastern Europe
English

In the News

Jan 24, 2022

Scowcroft Center Military Fellows quoted in the New Zealand Herald on the Russia-Ukraine crisis

By Atlantic Council

Scowcroft Center Military Fellows are quoted in the New Zealand Herald follwing their article outlining military developments in the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Conflict
Crisis Management

In the News

Jan 23, 2022

Sales in Fox News: To deter Putin in Ukraine, Biden must stand up to the Russian strongman

By Atlantic Council

Europe & Eurasia
National Security

UkraineAlert

Jan 23, 2022

Ukraine Crisis: Putin the gambler may have gone too far to back down

By Timothy Ash

Russian President Vladimir Putin has gained the world's attention with his threat to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine but he may now feel he must act or risk a serious loss of credibility on the international stage.

Conflict
European Union

Inflection Points

Jan 23, 2022

Putin is threatening not just Ukraine but post-Cold War principles. And the stakes are generational.

By Frederick Kempe

Unless Biden can shift the tide, Putin will continue his long campaign to reverse the post-Cold War principles under which countries in the world navigate the future together.

Conflict
Crisis Management

Britain Debrief

Jan 22, 2022

#BritainDebrief – Are we on the brink in Ukraine? A debrief from Tom Tugendhat, MP

By Ben Judah

Tom Tugendhat, MP, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, joins #BritainDebrief for a look at Britain's policies towards Ukraine and how realistic the threat of war in Ukraine is.

Conflict
Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2022

Stop asking what Putin wants and start asking what Ukrainians want

By Mychailo Wynnyckyj

Fears of a major European war have sparked endless speculation over what Putin may want and how the West should react, but Ukraine itself has been largely reduced to the status of bystander in its own national drama.

Civil Society
Conflict
Load More

Experts

Staff

Ginger Matchett

Assistant Director

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Africa Americas

Fellow

Anca Agachi

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Africa Conflict

Staff

Nika Aleksejeva

Resident Fellow, Baltics

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Belarus Disinformation

Millennium fellow

Kirk Allen

Digital Communications Lead, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems

Millennium Leadership Program

Middle East NATO Partnerships

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Fellow

Ryan Arick

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense
Load More