NATO

NATO

From July 7 to 8, heads of state and government will gather at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies will seek to capitalize on the success of last year’s landmark defense spending pledge and begin converting cash into capabilities. Check out our commentary, analysis, and events covering the convening, courtesy of our experts.

TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO defense spending tracker

By Kristen Taylor, Julia Salabert

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

Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

Dispatches Apr 20, 2026

Five ideas to make the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara a success

By Atlantic Council experts

While the upcoming summit is unlikely to produce anything as singularly significant as 2025’s “5 percent” pledge, there are important steps the Alliance should take.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

Dispatches Apr 10, 2026

Dispatch from Vilnius: Warfare is evolving rapidly. Here’s how NATO can keep up.

By David Julazadeh, Julia Salabert

The most important change is that the cost barrier to generating strategic effects has dropped dramatically.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia
Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

Dispatches Jan 21, 2026

To adapt to today’s security threats, NATO should prioritize the basics of defense innovation

By Julia Salabert, Kristen Taylor

Transatlantic allies must focus on accelerating defense innovation while strengthening their defense industrial bases.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

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
Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

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
Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

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

FEATURED EVENTS

Public Event Tue, April 28, 2026 • 10:15 am ET

Belgium’s defense minister on the future of transatlantic security relations

Minister of Defense of Belgium Theo Francken shares his views on transatlantic security developments and Belgium’s role in Europe’s growing defense industry.
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia NATO Politics & Diplomacy
Public Event Fri, April 17, 2026 • 11:45 am ET

The British ambassador to the US on Euro-Atlantic security and the Middle East

British Ambassador to the United States Sir Christian Turner joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the UK’s ongoing diplomatic efforts in the Middle East and its vision for the future of Euro-Atlantic security cooperation.
Europe & Eurasia Iran Middle East NATO
Online Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

US-Turkish defense relations and the upcoming NATO Summit

A discussion on the new era for the bilateral US-Turkish defense relationship and the significance of the 2026 NATO Summit in Ankara.
Defense Industry Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security

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

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Content

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2021

Secretary General Stoltenberg explains why NATO is getting serious about cyber and China ‘is not an adversary’

By Daniel Malloy

Jens Stoltenberg appeared at the Atlantic Council’s Washington headquarters ahead of next week’s NATO summit in Brussels and on a US trip that is also scheduled to include an Oval Office visit with President Joe Biden.

China Cybersecurity

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
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Experts

Fellow

Elisabeth Braw

Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Resilience & Society

Fellow

Henrik Breitenbauch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Danish Defense Industry

Fellow

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Defense Policy

Fellow

Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry European Union

Fellow

Chung-Yu Chou

Former Visiting Military Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Fellow

Jonathan R. Cohen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Greece Iraq
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Events

Public Event Wed, June 17, 2026 • 3:30 pm ET

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—The Atlantic Council is hosting Senators Shaheen and Tillis for a conversation on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense