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

Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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
Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

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

Dec 3, 2019

Trudeau and Rutte say NATO’s future is “bright,” not “brain-dead”

By John Burton

Trudeau said that “NATO has survived for seventy years because we’ve always had frank, real conversations. There have been disagreements that we’ve worked through. There have been differences and prospective differences in priorities that have ended up with a more resilient, more flexible, more agile organization that has adapted to the times we’ve had.”

NATO United States and Canada

Transcripts

Dec 3, 2019

NATO Engages transcript: In conversation with the prime ministers of the Netherlands and Canada

By Atlantic Council

H.E Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada and H.E. Mark Rutte, prime minister of the Netherlands speak to Amb. Rasitslav Káčer, Globesec chairman at NATO Engages 2019.

NATO United States and Canada

Transcripts

Dec 3, 2019

NATO Engages transcript: Heating up: The impact of climate security on the Alliance

By Atlantic Council

H.E. Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway speaks to Ambassador Boris Ruge, vice chairman of the Munich Security Conference at NATO Engages 2019.

Climate Change & Climate Action NATO

Transcripts

Dec 3, 2019

NATO Engages transcript: Setting the stage for the 2019 Leaders’ Meeting

By Atlantic Council

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg speaks with BBC correspondent Lyse Doucet about what to expect at the 2019 Leaders' Meeting.

NATO

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2019

NATO secretary general: The Alliance is delivering

By Max J. Rosenthal

When French President Emmanuel Macron warned of “the brain death of NATO” last month, it was widely seen as yet another damaging public rift for the Alliance. But NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a clear message on December 3, one day before NATO leaders meet in London: actions speak louder than words.

NATO

UkraineAlert

Dec 3, 2019

Ukraine faces a decisive December in a rapidly deteriorating geopolitical climate

By Stephen Blank

With a NATO summit in London and long awaited peace talks in Paris, December is shaping up to be a decisive month for Ukraine, but the geopolitical climate is far from favorable and could deteriorate further.

Conflict France

New Atlanticist

Dec 3, 2019

NATO is defined by its success—not its tensions

By David A. Wemer

While international headlines have focused on high-profile disputes within the NATO alliance over a litany of issues including defense spending, trade, Syria, and Brexit, transatlantic leaders stressed on December 3 that these disagreements are dwarfed by the continued success of the seventy-year-old alliance.

NATO Poland

Transcripts

Dec 3, 2019

NATO Engages transcript: Defense and deterrence for a new era

By Atlantic Council

After an introduction by Dr. Karin Von Hippel, director-general of the Royal United Services Institute, H.E. Andrzej Duda, president of Poland and H.E. Zoran Zaev and prime minister of the Republic of North Macedonia speak on a panel moderated by Stephen Sackur, presenter on BBC Hardtalk

NATO Poland

Transcripts

Dec 3, 2019

NATO Engages transcript: Perspectives from Defence Secretary Ben Wallace

By Atlantic Council

Ben Wallace, secretary of state for defence of the United Kingdom speaks at NATO Engages 2019.

NATO United Kingdom

In the News

Dec 2, 2019

Bryza quoted in TRT World on NATO Summit and U.S.-Turkey relations

By Atlantic Council

NATO NATO Partnerships
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Experts

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

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish
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