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

Mar 13, 2013

The transatlantic community needs a common vision

By Isabelle Francois, New Atlanticist

From Isabelle Francois, New Atlanticist:  Eminent American strategic thinkers indeed consider that their country is at a crucial juncture of human history and have advised the Obama administration to seize the opportunity towards collaborative partnerships with its most stalwart allies in Europe

Economy & Business European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 12, 2013

Muddling Through from One NATO Ministerial to Another

By Isabelle Francois

NATO Defense Ministers recently met for their periodic discussions on allied capabilities and operations, and engaged with their counterparts from partner countries to discuss the way ahead in Afghanistan. Automatic US budget cuts which went into effect on March 1st were looming large. The Pentagon spokesman, George Little, announced on the eve of the ministerial […]

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Mar 11, 2013

Mattis urges keeping 20,000 NATO troops in Afghanistan

By Gopal Ratnam, Bloomberg

From Gopal Ratnam, Bloomberg:  The general who heads the U.S. Central Command went beyond the Pentagon’s positions today on issues including how many troops to keep in Afghanistan, giving candid testimony to Congress as he prepares to step down.

NATO Security & Defense

Report

Mar 5, 2013

NATO Global Partnerships: Strategic Opportunities and Imperatives in a Globalized World

By Franklin D. Kramer

International security in today’s globalized world demands a framework responsive to interconnectedness, multiple power centers, shared vulnerabilities, and dramatic change. To meet these diverse challenges that affect the security of its members, NATO, as the West’s premier security organization, must reach beyond the transatlantic arena. Download PDF

NATO NATO Partnerships

Event Recap

Feb 26, 2013

NATO Defense Ministerial Debrief

By Jason Harmala

On February 26, the Atlantic Council hosted James J. Townsend, Jr., deputy assistant secretary of defense for European and NATO Policy, for a roundtable discussion on the outcomes of the NATO Defense Ministerial Meetings which took place February 21-22, 2013 in Brussels.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 22, 2013

Security Force Assistance: It’s Not Just for Weak States

By Derek Reveron

Doctrinally, security force assistance (SFA) is a set of activities to develop the capacity and capabilities of foreign security forces and their supporting institutions. We often associate SFA with weak states, where the United States enables partner countries such as Pakistan, Colombia, and Yemen to combat challenges that threaten their own security and regional stability.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Feb 22, 2013

Panetta, Germany differ on troop numbers in Afghanistan

By Lolita C. Baldor, AP

From Lolita C. Baldor, AP:  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and his German counterpart offered conflicting accounts Friday of a discussion about how many U.S. and European forces would remain in Afghanistan after the anticipated end of combat after 2014.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Feb 21, 2013

Air Force commander is likely candidate for top NATO post

By Thom Shanker, New  York Times

From Thom Shanker, New  York Times:  Senior NATO officials said on Thursday that Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, currently the commander of American Air Force units in Europe and Africa, was emerging as the likely candidate to be nominated by President Obama to be the alliance’s supreme military commander.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Feb 15, 2013

Panetta to lead U.S. delegation to NATO defense ministerial

By American Forces Press Service

From American Forces Press Service: Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta will continue in his position until former Sen. Chuck Hagel is confirmed

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 13, 2013

Time to Pivot Back to Europe

By Harlan Ullman

Last year, the Obama administration released its latest strategic guidance for the Pentagon. The lead headline read “U.S. pivots to Asia.” 

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Experts