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


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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

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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.

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NATOSource

Oct 9, 2012

Ministers try to limit impact of defense cuts on NATO

By Adrian Croft, Reuters

From Adrian Croft, Reuters:  NATO ministers wrestled on Tuesday with how to prevent austerity-driven defense cuts in many member countries from undermining the power of the 63-year-old Western alliance.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Oct 9, 2012

NATO Secretary General stresses closer defence cooperation amid tighter budgets

By NATO

From NATO:  NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen stressed the importance of closer cooperation on defence at the start of today’s Allied defence ministerial meeting.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Oct 5, 2012

NATO: All SHAPE and No Arms?

By Julian Lindley-French

In the 1950s the Americans used to have a NATO joke (they have about one per decade). NATO, they said, was like the Venus de Milo, all SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) and no arms.  You are meant to laugh now.  The essential point was that NATO was fast becoming lots of military headquarters with no military […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Oct 3, 2012

Syrian Mortar Attack on Turkey Adds New Dimension to Conflict

By Ross Wilson

The October 3 spillover of violence in Syria across the border to Turkey has added a new edge to the campaign Prime Minister Erdoğan’s Administration has been waging to convince its allies and friends that Syria is spinning out of control, increasingly threatening regional peace and stability, and warranting a firmer response.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Oct 1, 2012

Will France impede NATO’s Smart Defense Initiative?

By Leo Michel, New Atlanticist

From Leo Michel, New Atlanticist:  Is “smart defense”—NATO’s effort to promote greater cooperation among the allies in military capabilities and training— a “Trojan Horse” at the service of the “war machine of the American defense industry?”

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Oct 1, 2012

Afghanistan and defense capabilities top agenda for upcoming meeting of NATO defense ministers

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  Next week, NATO Defence ministers and our partners will meet here in Brussels. We will have two major items on our agenda. Firstly, our missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, and secondly, our Defence capabilities.

NATO Security & Defense

NATOSource

Sep 28, 2012

SecGen Ramussen welcomes new commander of NATO Strategic Command in the US

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  General Paloméros, we are all grateful that, once again, France has nominated an exceptional officer to lead this important command.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 28, 2012

Smart Defense Not a Trojan Horse

By Leo Michel

Is “smart defense”—NATO’s effort to promote greater cooperation among the allies in military capabilities and training— a “Trojan Horse” at the service of the “war machine of the American defense industry”?  That would appear to be the conviction of one French senator, according to his remarks before a few hundred parliamentarians, high-ranking officials, general officers, […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Sep 21, 2012

Time to Get NATO More Active on the Syrian Situation

By Robert Bracknell

The Syrian regime is struggling to contain yet another manifestation of the Arab Spring with brutality and inhumanity unparalleled since the freedom phenomenon began in Tunisia last April. The international media has documented the slaughter of thousands of rebels and protected civilians, waging war indiscriminately and through inhumane and unlawful means against internal populations whose […]

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Sep 17, 2012

Farewell Dinner for General Stephane Abrial

By Jason Harmala

On September 17, the Atlantic Council organized a farewell dinner for General Stéphane Abrial, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. As General Abrial is scheduled to turn over his command of Allied Command Transformation to his replacement in early October, this dinner provided his Washington friends and partners with an opportunity to say farewell. General Abrial thanked […]

NATO Security & Defense

Experts