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

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2012

Alliance and Partnership

By Kenneth Weisbrode

NATO has made the strengthening of “global partnerships” a top priority. This is a good thing. They are better than the alternative: a polarized world of national, regional and even multinational rivals.

NATO Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Mar 22, 2012

The transatlantic bargain after “the Pivot”

By Barry Pavel and Jeffrey Lightfoot

In the issue brief “The Transatlantic Bargain After ‘the Pivot’,” authors Barry Pavel, director of the Council’s International Security Program, and Jeff Lightfoot, program deputy director, argue that as the United States reassesses its defense priorities towards the Indo-Pacific region amid cutbacks on defense spending, European partners in NATO must take on a larger responsibility […]

Defense Policy National Security

New Atlanticist

Mar 21, 2012

Francois Hollande’s Alternative Defense Vision Worrisome

By Dan Kettinger

French Socialist presidential candidate François Hollande recently delivered his defense program in an underwhelming speech that vacillated between vague, grandiose assertions of France’s “independence” on the international stage and its need to act in concert with other countries in addressing common security threats.  

France NATO

Report

Mar 19, 2012

Transatlantic Nations and Global Security: Pivoting and Partnerships

By Franklin D. Kramer

As world leaders prepare for the NATO Summit in Chicago this May, a new Atlantic Council report argues for renewed transatlantic leadership that will allow NATO to better address significant global issues with a unified voice—specifically in the greater Middle East and around cyber security—in order to remain relevant in today’s increasingly interconnected world. Download […]

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 16, 2012

To Help Syria, Apply a Mix of ‘Soft’ and ‘Hard’ Power

By Benedetta Berti

The debate over the role of the international community in Syria is disheartening, dominated by skepticism about the ability of outsiders to have a positive impact. This stems from the fact that two main options – continuing to refrain from direct intervention or waging a fully fledged military campaign – both have serious drawbacks. Is […]

International Organizations NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 14, 2012

Obameron Versus Merkozy

By Julian Lindley-French

I could tell you where I am but then I would have to kill you. I have just spent the day annoying NATO generals, the majority of whom are British, which is one of my purposes in life. Much of the day was spent by the British explaining the debt-fueled contradiction that is likely to […]

NATO Security & Defense

Event Recap

Mar 13, 2012

The Atlantic Treaty Association Bureau Visits the Atlantic Council

By Jason Harmala

On March 13, the Transatlantic Relations Program hosted the Atlantic Treaty Association Bureau for an off-the-record lunch discussion with a group of Atlantic Council staff and representatives.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Mar 7, 2012

Europeans’ Dilemma and Putin’s Pledge

By Ioan Mircea Pascu

From the three “tenets” of Lord Ismay – NATO has been created to keep the Americans in, the Germans down and the Russians out – the most important one has proven to be the first: to keep the Americans in!

European Union International Organizations

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2012

Putin’s Return and NATO-Russia Relations: Back to the Future

By Jakub Kulhanek

Shocking no one, Vladimir Putin will return to the Russian presidency following Sunday’s election. While it remains to be seen how the people who already took to the streets after the Duma elections respond to his return to the Kremlin, there is little doubt that Russia is entering uncharted waters of domestic uncertainty and possible […]

NATO Russia

NATOSource

Mar 2, 2012

Rasmussen: ‘In good times and bad, NATO has been the best investment Allies have made’

By Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO

From Anders Fogh Rasmussen, NATO:  We cannot tell how long this economic turmoil will last. But its consequences will be with us for a long time to come.

NATO Security & Defense

Experts