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

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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

Jul 14, 2011

NATO and Strategic Cyber Capabilities

By Jason Healey

NATO must transform itself in order to deal with cyber threats and opportunities. Although currently on a strong course with a new cyber strategy, recently approved by the national defense ministers, the Alliance still has a long way yet to go.

Cybersecurity NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 13, 2011

NATO’s Official Policy on Killing Gaddafi

By Jorge Benitez

Josh Rogin’s story in Foreign Policy, “Exclusive: Top U.S. admiral admits we are trying to kill Gaddafi,” sparked considerable media attention and strengthened the perception that NATO’s air strikes in Libya are targeting Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya NATO

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2011

Increasing Outreach, Public Understanding and Support for NATO across the Transatlantic Community

By Kurt Volker

Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and Atlantic Council Strategic Advisors Group member Kurt Volker argues that allied political leaders must make a stronger case for NATO and that the Alliance must be seen as successful for it to regain public support in his brief “Increasing Outreach, Public Understanding and Support for NATO across the Transatlantic […]

NATO Security & Defense

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2011

U.S. European Command and NATO’S Strategic Concept: Post-Afghanistan and Beyond

By Harlan Ullman

In “U.S. European Command and NATO’s Strategic Concept: Post-Afghanistan and Beyond,” Atlantic Council Strategic Advisors Group member Harlan Ullman argues that after the NATO drawdown from Afghanistan, EUCOM will become even more important as a means of sustaining and building NATO’s capabilities and capacities in an era of limited defense resources. Download the PDF

European Union International Organizations

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2011

EUCOM’s Future Force Structure

By Kori Schake

In ‘EUCOM’s Future Force Structure,’ Kori Schake warns that EUCOM is losing the argument with the services, particularly the U.S. Army, about the importance and value of U.S. forces stationed in Europe. This Program on International Security issue brief is part of a series of five issue briefs to assess the future roles, missions and […]

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2011

Nuclear Issues for NATO After the Strategic Concept

By Walt Slocombe

Atlantic Council Strategic Advisors Group member and former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Walt Slocombe analyzes how the 2010 NATO Strategic Concept will impact Alliance nuclear politics and posture in “Nuclear Issues for NATO After the Strategic Concept.” Download the PDF

NATO Nuclear Deterrence

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2011

EUCOM and NATO-EU Relations after the Lisbon Summit

By Leo Michel

In “EUCOM and NATO-EU Relations after the Lisbon Summit: Bank Shots Score Too,” Leo Michel urges the United States to ‘embed’ officers with allied and partner defense institutions and for EUCOM to work with other European institutions on the implementation of the Comprehensive Approach. Download the PDF

European Union International Organizations
Lord Robertson Atlantic Council Makins Lecture, March 2, 2010

New Atlanticist

Jul 7, 2011

Former NATO Boss to Europeans: Have We No Pride?

By James Joyner

Former NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, a member of the Atlantic Council International Advisory Board, says that not only were Bob Gates’ parting shots at NATO correct but “he may well have pulled some punches.” Speaking at London’s Chatham House, he declared that “Bob Gates’ words should put a shiver down the collective European spine.” At […]

Libya NATO

NATOSource

Jun 22, 2011

Budget cuts reducing NATO’s planned UAV purchase

By Bradley Peniston, Defense News

From Bradley Peniston, Defense News:  NATO is continuing to negotiate with Northrop Grumman on an estimated 1 billion euro ($1.4 billion) contract to provide the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Core Capability, a small fleet of radar-equipped Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

Drones NATO

NATOSource

Jun 21, 2011

New Commander for NATO’s Joint Warfare Center

By Allied Command Operations

From Allied Command Operations:  French Army Major General Jean Fred Berger assumed command of NATO’s Joint Warfare Centre today in a Change of Command ceremony, replacing German Army Lieutenant General Wolfgang Korte

NATO Security & Defense

Experts