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

#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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
#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

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

Atlantic Debrief

Oct 7, 2024

#AtlanticDebrief – How can the transatlantic alliance leverage the EU as a defense power? | A debrief from Rob Murray

Rob Murray unpacks his policy recommendations for the transatlantic security alliance to boost funding, procurement and production.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Report

Oct 7, 2024

Leveraging Europe and the EU as a defense power

By Rob Murray

Defense cooperation between the United States and the European Union must solidify the backbone of a resilient transatlantic alliance capable of securing global stability and upholding democratic values.

Defense Industry European Union

Report

Oct 7, 2024

Getting transatlantic coordination right for Ukraine

By John E. Herbst

Transatlantic support for Ukraine has been laudable, but much more is needed, particularly from Europe, given the political uncertainty in the United States.

European Union NATO

Issue Brief

Oct 7, 2024

Strategic stability in the third nuclear age

By Matthew Kroenig

The world is entering a third nuclear age. This brief explores global strategic stability in the 2020s and 2030s.

NATO Nuclear Deterrence

In the News

Oct 4, 2024

Wieslander interviewed by Dagens Nyheter

On Friday, October 4th, Anna Wieslander, Director of Northern Europe, was interviewed by Dagens Nyheter to comment on the report that the U.S. National Defense Strategy Commission presented to Congress and the President at the end of the summer.  “During the Cold War, the U.S. was able to handle two regional conflicts simultaneously, for example, […]

NATO Northern Europe

Issue Brief

Oct 4, 2024

How the US and Europe can counter Russian information manipulation about nonproliferation

By Natasha Lander Finch, Ryan Arick

This strategic framework presents the findings and recommendations of the Atlantic Council project to develop and strengthen comprehensive responses to counter Russian foreign malign influence that undermine nonproliferation norms and regimes in Eastern Europe.

Disinformation Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Oct 2, 2024

Michta for Atlantic Council on the United States supporting NATO allies meeting and exceeding defense spending levels

On October 1, Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow in the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative published a New Atlanticist piece for the Atlantic Council titled “The US should help NATO allies that help themselves.” It argued that the United States should work more closely with and reward allies that spend more money on defense, shoulder the risk […]

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2024

A European manifesto: It’s time for a New NATO

Thirteen Europeans—former heads of state and government, military leaders, diplomats, and top experts—make the case for NATO to take important steps to set the Alliance on a better course.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Oct 1, 2024

The US should help NATO allies that help themselves

By Andrew A. Michta

Washington should prioritize its defense cooperation with member states that are doing the most to bolster their own defenses, especially the Northeast corridor allies.

Defense Industry NATO

In the News

Sep 29, 2024

Ann-Sofie Dahl featured in Sveriges Radio on Mark Rutte

By Ann-Sofie Dahl

On September 29, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Ann-Sofie Dahl was featured in Sveriges Radio discussing Mark Rutte’s appointment as the new NATO Secretary General

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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Experts

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

Paolo Alli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Eastern Europe English

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

Fellow

Lisa Aronsson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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Events

Public Event Tue, September 23, 2025 • 3:30 pm ET

Spain’s foreign minister on Madrid’s approach to European and global security

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno shares Spain's strategy for Europe, NATO's southern flank, and the transatlantic alliance.

Europe & Eurasia NATO Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense