NATO

From June 24 to 25, heads of state and government gathered at the NATO Summit in The Hague, where they agreed on a new commitment to spend 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2035. 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

FEATURED EVENTS

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.

Content

NATOSource

Apr 9, 2013

NATO’s Nordic Model

By Magnus Nordenman, New Atlanticist

From Magnus Nordenman, New Atlanticist:  Amidst massive defense cuts and perennial squabbling over burden sharing across NATO, the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have quietly assumed a real leadership role in the transatlantic security relationship.

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2013

How the Nordic Countries Are Quietly Leading the Alliance into the Future

By Magnus Nordenman

Amidst massive defense cuts and perennial squabbling over burden sharing across NATO, the Nordic countries of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark have quietly assumed a real leadership role in the transatlantic security relationship. They are making valuable contributions to the Alliance in personnel, strategic vision, operations, and policy. More importantly, they provide a model for […]

NATO Northern Europe

NATOSource

Apr 5, 2013

NATO must become as much knowledge nexus as military nexus

By Julian Lindley-French, New Atlanticist

From Julian Lindley-French, New Atlanticist:  H]ow can NATO address its most pressing emerging security challenge: how to close the strategy-austerity-capability gap?

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2013

Connecting NATO Forces…and Minds

By Julian Lindley-French

“A thorough examination of the way our military is organized and operates will…highlight our inherent strengths.  Our strategic planning must emphasize these strengths, which include leader development, training, mobility and logistics, special operations forces, cyber, space, research and development.”

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Mar 28, 2013

NATO deactivates Allied Maritime Command Naples

By NATO

From NATO:  [A]fter over forty years of service to the Alliance, Allied Maritime Command Naples (MC Naples) cased its colors following the transfer of its responsibility  to NATO’s new Maritime Command located in Northwood, United Kingdom.

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Mar 21, 2013

Allied Command Transformation Strategic Military Partners Workshop

By Jason Harmala

On Thursday, March 21, 2013, the Atlantic Council and NATO’s Allied Command Transformation (ACT) organized a workshop on NATO’s military partnerships.

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Mar 20, 2013

Experts Discuss Feasibility of Expanding NATO’s Global Partnerships

On March 20, 2013, the Atlantic Council held an event to launch the newest report by Atlantic Council Distinguished Fellow Franklin D. Kramer entitled “NATO Global Partnerships: Strategic Opportunities and Imperatives in a Globalized World.”

NATO NATO Partnerships

NATOSource

Mar 15, 2013

Spain and NATO look to the future

By NATO

From NATO:  General Knud Bartels, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, paid an official visit to Spain, where he discussed with the Spanish Chief of Defence, Admiral Fernando García Sánchez, NATO defence priorities post-2014, particularly Smart Defence, and the Connected Forces Initiative.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Mar 14, 2013

After 61 years, NATO headquarters in Heidelberg deactivates

By Matt Millham, Stars and Stripes

From Matt Millham, Stars and Stripes:  As part of NATO’s transformation to a more flexible and affordable force, the alliance on Thursday deactivated its Headquarters Allied Force Command Heidelberg, ending a 61-year history that tracks largely alongside that of the U.S. Army’s in this old German city.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2013

Transatlantic Confessions

By Stanley R. Sloan

Are transatlantic relations in another crisis, perhaps a slow rolling one, or are we at the opening of a new and more promising era for the United States, Canada, and their European partners? Decisions on both sides of the Atlantic in the next few years will determine the fate of America’s most important alliance.

Economy & Business NATO

Experts