LOOK BACK ON THE WASHINGTON SUMMIT


Atlantic Council at the NATO Summit in Washington

Live commentary, authoritative analysis, and high-level events covering NATO’s Washington summit, courtesy of our experts.

Essays on the Alliance’s future

NATO’s seventy-fifth anniversary is a milestone in a remarkable story of reinvention, adaptation, and unity. However, as the Alliance seeks to secure its future for the next seventy-five years, it faces revanchist old rivals, escalating strategic competition, and uncertainties over the future of the rules-based international order. 

With partners and allies turning attention from celebrations to challenges, the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative invited contributors to engage with the most pressing concerns ahead of the historic Washington summit and chart a path for the Alliance’s future. This series features seven essays focused on concrete issues that NATO must address at the Washington summit and five essays that examine longer-term challenges the Alliance must confront to ensure transatlantic security. 

Related program

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.

Content

Event Recap

Feb 25, 2015

Germany Army Chief of Staff Bruno Kasdorf on the State of Transatlantic Security

By Brent Scowcroft Center

The Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security hosted Lieutenant General Bruno Kasdorf, the Chief of Staff of the German Army, on Monday, February 20. General Kasdorf presented the German perspective on international security issues, including the latest developments regarding NATO and Europe, in a new, dynamic security environment.

Germany NATO

In the News

Feb 25, 2015

Aronsson: Is NATO’s Two Percent Spending Call Realistic?

By Lisa Aronsson

Brent Scowcroft Center Visiting Fellow Lisa Aronsson writes for Carnegie Europe’s blog on why NATO’s two percent spending target is not realistic:

NATO Security & Defense

In the News

Feb 25, 2015

Brzezinski on the “Exercise Gap” Between Russia and NATO

By Ian Brzezinski

BBC News quotes Scowcroft Center Senior Fellow Ian Brzezinski on the “exercise gap” between Russia and NATO from an Atlantic Council report:

NATO Russia
Russia's Zapad strategic military exercises, Sept. 26, 2013

NATOSource

Feb 23, 2015

The NATO-Russia Exercise Gap

By Ian J. Brzezinski and Nicholas Varangis, Atlantic Council

Exercises are used by defense establishments to test their readiness, deployability, and logistical and combat proficiency.

NATO Russia

Event Recap

Feb 23, 2015

The Fall of Debaltseve: Implications for European Security

By Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center

On Friday, February 20, the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center hosted a conference call on recent developments in Ukraine with retired Gen. Wesley Clark, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and current Atlantic Council Board member.

NATO Russia

Defense Industrialist

Feb 21, 2015

Architecting Poland’s New Tank Project

By James Hasik

Every morning’s news from Ukraine reminds us of the continued relevance of heavy armor on modern battlefields. Russian T-72s aren’t the most modern tanks, but they’re effective enough against an underprepared enemy. What’s more alarming is what’s under development to the east—Uralvagonzavod’s T-14 Armata project. In response, Poland’s Ministry of Defense is aiming to replace […]

Defense Industry NATO
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Feb. 22, 2013

NATOSource

Feb 20, 2015

Leon Panetta: You Have To Deal with the Russians from Strength

By Spiegel

Excerpts from interview of former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta by Markus Feldenkirchen and Holger Stark of Spiegel, February 14, 2015.

Germany Intelligence
MQ-9 Reaper, July 30, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 20, 2015

Importance of US Decision to Sell Armed Drones to Allies

By Paul McLeary, Defense News

A number of new programs being implemented by Washington and NATO partners may have a big impact on how Europe equips itself, and how and when they deploy their forces in the future.

Drones NATO
Russian President Vladimir Putin, Dec. 8, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 19, 2015

Putin a Threat to Baltic States, Western Officials Say

By Andrew Osborn, Reuters

Senior Western officials accused Russia on Thursday of redrawing the map of Europe by force and posing a threat to the Baltic states.

NATO Northern Europe
British Defense Minister Michael Fallon, Aug. 16, 2014

NATOSource

Feb 19, 2015

Putin Will Target Baltic Republics Next, UK Defense Minister Warns

By Ben Farmer, Telegraph

There is a “real and present danger” that Vladimir Putin will launch a campaign of undercover attacks to destabilise the Baltic states on Nato’s eastern flank, the Defence Secretary has warned.

NATO Northern Europe

Experts

Events