TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

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

China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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
China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

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 • 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, 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

Jun 3, 2021

China is a present danger to Europe. NATO’s defense plans must respond.

By John R. Deni

In not emphasizing threats from China in the DDA, the Alliance comes up short. China isn’t some challenge of tomorrow or threat that has yet to fully form; even today, it is a clear and present threat to allied security in Europe and beyond.

China Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 29, 2021

Kramer in The National Interest discussing NATO’s deterrent role in the Indo-Pacific

By Franklin D. Kramer

On May 29, Atlantic Council Board Director and Distinguished Fellow Franklin D. Kramer authored an article for The National Interest arguing that NATO needs to come to grips with the reality that there are now two major contested theaters—the Indo-Pacific region and Europe—and members need to increase their involvement in each.

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

In the News

May 24, 2021

Mulder speaks at Alabama World Affairs Council on space operations

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Senior US Air Force Fellow Lt Col Christopher P. Mulder participates in an event with the Alabama World Affairs Council.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Op-Ed

May 19, 2021

A Green chancellor (yes, a Green chancellor) will keep Germany and Europe safe

By Roderick Kefferpütz

Though they are a movement formed by peaceniks, the German Greens realize that the challenge of our time, besides climate change, is the systemic conflict between democracy and authoritarianism, writes a Green strategist.

Europe & Eurasia Germany

In the News

May 19, 2021

Kirchberger quoted in Financial Times: European show of support for US in Indopacific will remain limited

By Sarah Kirchberger

Sarah Kirchberger was quoted in the Financial Times on how the increased European naval presence in the Indo-Pacific reflects growing concerns over Chinese military activities in the region.

China European Union

In-Depth Research & Reports

May 18, 2021

Predictable strategy and unpredictable operations: The implications of agility in Northern Europe

By Conor Rodihan, Matthew R. Crouch, and Ronald C. Fairbanks

As the US military becomes increasingly agile, its evolving strategy and activities pose implications for cooperation with allies, deterrence, and stability in Northern Europe.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 17, 2021

Sakhi in the Heart of Asia Society: In search of peace for Afghanistan

By Atlantic Council

Afghanistan International Security Assistance Force

In-Depth Research & Reports

May 12, 2021

Falling in: The deterrent value of Host Nation Support in the Baltic Sea region

By Kathleen McInnis and Connor McPartland

Host Nation Support plays a vital, yet often overlooked, role in enabling NATO’s overall deterrence strategy for the Baltic Sea region.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

May 12, 2021

Starling in Joint Air Power Competence Centre on NATO command and control

By Atlantic Council

Forward Defense Deputy Director and Transatlantic Security Initiative Resident Fellow Clementine G. Starling co-authored an article titled "NATO command and control (C2) resilience in contested environments."

Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

May 11, 2021

Afghanistan: What now to avoid disaster?

By James Cunningham, Hugo Llorens, Ronald E. Neumann, Richard Olson, and Earl Anthony Wayne

Avoiding complete defeat for US goals after the military withdrawal will require swift, coordinated action from Washington. Five former top US diplomats to Afghanistan reveal how to do it.

Afghanistan Conflict
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Experts

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

Fellow

LeAnne Noelani Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jeppe Kofod

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Alexander Young

Project Assistant

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia
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