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.

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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

A security strategy for the Black Sea

New Atlanticist Jun 27, 2025

Four fundamental questions the NATO Summit did not answer

By Torrey Taussig

Over the coming months, NATO allies will have to wrestle with questions about the US commitment to Europe, their shared approach to China, and more.
Conflict Defense Industry
A security strategy for the Black Sea

Inflection Points Jun 26, 2025

Dispatch from The Hague: It’s been Trump’s week in Europe and Iran

By Frederick Kempe

What connects the recent events in Iran and at the NATO Summit is that they won’t be remembered for the threats countered but rather for the opportunities seized.
Europe & Eurasia Iran
A security strategy for the Black Sea

Fast Thinking Jun 25, 2025

Trump warmed to NATO at The Hague. But what about Ukraine?

By Atlantic Council

Allies reiterated their commitment to collective defense. But absent from the communiqué was any mention of how Russia’s war against Ukraine should end.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
A security strategy for the Black Sea

New Atlanticist Jun 25, 2025

Experts react: NATO allies agreed to a 5 percent defense spending target in a low-drama summit. Now what?

By Atlantic Council experts

The Alliance summit was notable for what was said and done, especially about defense spending—but also for what was left off the agenda.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
A security strategy for the Black Sea

Inflection Points Jun 24, 2025

Dispatch from The Hague: How Trump can build on his Middle East success with NATO

By Frederick Kempe

As the Alliance summit begins, the US president can already justifiably trumpet three major achievements in the Middle East. Will he add one more in Europe?
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
A security strategy for the Black Sea

New Atlanticist Jun 23, 2025

Expect NATO’s new spending pledge to be overshadowed by weakening US commitment and inaction on Ukraine

By Ian Brzezinski, Ryan Arick

The Hague summit will ultimately be defined by what the US president communicates about his commitment to transatlantic security and what NATO allies do to support Ukraine.
Defense Policy NATO
A security strategy for the Black Sea

New Atlanticist Jun 20, 2025

What counts as ‘defense’ in NATO’s potential 5 percent spending goal?

By John R. Deni, Ryan Arick

The Alliance must ensure that “defense related” items truly contribute to collective defense as it plans its new, larger spending goal.
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
A security strategy for the Black Sea

Issue Brief Jun 5, 2025

Immediate steps that Europe can take to enhance its role in NATO defense

By Franklin D. Kramer, Kristen Taylor

As NATO members gather in the Hague amid uncertainty about US commitment to the continent and concerns about Russia’s military rebuilding, what can European nations do to deter and, if necessary, defeat threats from Moscow?
Europe & Eurasia NATO
A security strategy for the Black Sea

New Atlanticist Jun 5, 2025

What explains the transatlantic rift? It’s all about threat perception.

By Jason Davidson

NATO allies’ differing threat perceptions provide the backdrop for what could be a contentious summit in The Hague this month.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

FEATURED EVENTS

Online Event Thu, July 3, 2025 • 4:00 am ET

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Europe’s security after the NATO Summit

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Finnish President Alexander Stubb shares his conclusions from the NATO Summit in The Hague and how Europe must adapt its approach to security.

Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia European Union
Online Event Fri, June 20, 2025 • 4:00 pm ET

Sweden’s foreign minister on the 2025 NATO Summit agenda

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard joins the Atlantic Council to discuss the NATO Summit and the future of transatlantic relations.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Northern Europe Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, June 10, 2025 • 12:00 pm ET

Senator Jeanne Shaheen on Russia’s war and The Hague summit

Shaheen joins Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio for a conversation on the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague and US policy on Russia and Ukraine.
Conflict International Organizations NATO
Public Event Wed, May 14, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era of NATO

A discussion on navigating a new era of NATO in today’s shifting geopolitical environment.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense United States and Canada

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.

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Content

Report

Dec 15, 2023

A security strategy for the Black Sea

By Atlantic Council Task Force on Black Sea Security

This report outlines the strategic setting, regional challenges and threats, key planning assumptions, risk and risk mitigation, and finally DIME (diplomatic, informational, military, and economic) based recommendations for enhancing security and stability in the Black Sea region.

Europe & Eurasia NATO
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Commander of the Sparta Battalion Artyom Zhoga pose for a picture after a ceremony to present Gold Star medals to service members, bearing the title of Hero of Russia and involved in the country's military campaign in Ukraine, on the eve of Heroes of the Fatherland Day in Moscow, Russia, December 8, 2023. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS

New Atlanticist

Dec 15, 2023

Russian War Report: Putin to run for re-election in annexed regions of Ukraine

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

The Central Election Commission confirmed the possibility of holding presidential elections in illegally annexed Ukrainian territories.

Conflict Disinformation

Fast Thinking

Dec 12, 2023

Zelenskyy visits DC at Ukraine’s most dangerous moment

By Atlantic Council

Our experts analyze what Zelenskyy got from the visit and what’s next with US support for Ukraine's war effort.

Conflict Crisis Management

UkraineAlert

Dec 12, 2023

New Polish PM Donald Tusk vows “full mobilization” of West to help Ukraine

By Peter Dickinson

Poland’s newly appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk has vowed to rally Western support for Ukraine as it continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

Dec 9, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on TV 4 Nyhetsmorgon

On Saturday, December 9, Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe, participated in TV4 Nyhetsmorgon to discuss the current situation, the new Swedish-American defense agreement, and Ukraine. Wieslander’s key messages were: – The international situation is very serious. – The agreement with the USA is beneficial for Sweden, given the importance of deterrence and the need […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Dec 7, 2023

Connable in Lawfare: Give NATO’s Eastern Flank Countries and Ukraine All the M1 Tanks

By Atlantic Council

Conflict Defense Industry

In the News

Dec 7, 2023

Kramer quoted in Financial Times discussing the private sector in modern conflict

By Atlantic Council

Franklin Kramer speaks about the importance of deepening collaboration between the private sector and the national security enterprise.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Dec 6, 2023

Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

On December 4, Andrew A. Michta was quoted in a Hospodářské Noviny piece that discusses the state of global industrial defense bases and their ability to impact the war in Ukraine. Michta warns that Europe and America are slow to start arms production — both in their support of Ukraine, and their own domestic defenses. […]

China Defense Industry

In the News

Dec 4, 2023

Vershbow in The Atlantic on the future of the NATO Alliance

By Alexander Vershbow

On December 4, TSI Distinguished Fellow Ambassador Alexander Vershbow was quoted in The Atlantic analyzing how a potential second-term for former President Trump would impact the future of the NATO Alliance.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Nov 30, 2023

Michta on Al Jazeera discussing the war in Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On November 29, an interview with Dr. Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was released by Al Jazeera Balkans. Michta discusses the war in Ukraine and European security architecture, noting that Russia will be able to rebuild its military in only a few years.

Conflict NATO
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Experts

Fellow

Rich Outzen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Arabic Central Asia

Expert bio

Loneta Progni

Visiting Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Albanian English

Fellow

Jeffrey Reynolds

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Staff

Julia Salabert

Program Assistant

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Jean-Loup Samaan

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Defense Policy
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Events

Online Event Tue, April 7, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

US-Turkish defense relations and the upcoming NATO Summit
Defense Industry Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security