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

Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

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

In the News

Oct 31, 2023

Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on terrorism and the recognition of Hamas as a registered terrorist organization in the US

By Maggie Feldman-Piltch

On October 31, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Maggie Feldman-Piltch wrote the latest edition of her project “Non-State Actress.” In this edition of Non-State Actress, Maggie Feldman-Piltch published a story that provides a definition of terrorism and historical incidents around the world. In the post, Feldman-Piltch describes the recognition of Hamas as a registered […]

Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Oct 27, 2023

NATO’s greatest advantage over adversaries is its network of allies and industry partners. Here’s how to use it.

By Joslyn Brodfuehrer

Government officials and defense industry leaders meeting this month mapped out the opportunities available to accelerate defense and technology cooperation between NATO allies.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Oct 26, 2023

Arming Ukraine is cheap compared to the far higher price of Russian victory

By Peter Dickinson

Anyone concerned by the cost of supporting the Ukrainian war effort should consider the far higher price the Western world would have to pay in order to stop Putin following a Russian victory in Ukraine, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Industry

Report

Oct 26, 2023

Continued US and allied integration is essential to deter Russian CBRN use

By Natasha Lander Finch, Ryan Arick, Christopher Skaluba

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Atlantic Council project Conceptualizing Integrated Deterrence to Address Russian Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Escalation. The objective of this project was to develop an approach for incorporating European allies and partners into the US model of integrated deterrence against Russian CBRN use.

Arms Control Defense Policy

In the News

Oct 23, 2023

Townsend in Svenska Dagbladet on Turkey stalling Sweden’s NATO membership

By James J. Townsend Jr.

On October 23, Transatlantic Security Advisor Senior Advisor Jim Townsend was quoted in Svenska Dagbladet discussing Turkey’s consideration of Sweden’s NATO membership bid (text in Swedish).

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Oct 20, 2023

Wieslander participates in Riga Conference 2023

On Friday, October 20, Anna Wieslander, director for Northern Europe, attended the Riga Conference, organized by the Latvian Transatlantic Organisation in Riga. She participated in the Panel “Madrid, Vilnius, Washington – Milestones for NATO’s generational Change” together with David Cattler, NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security, Jeremy Shapiro, Research Director, European Council on […]

NATO Northern Europe

New Atlanticist

Oct 19, 2023

As NATO grows, it needs new ways to expedite its decisions

By Ira Straus

A widening of the bloc requires a deepening of its decision-making procedures. Here are some ways to avoid a single-member veto of big decisions.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

UkraineAlert

Oct 17, 2023

Ukraine receives potentially game-changing long-range US missiles

By Peter Dickinson

Ukraine has finally received long-range ATACMS missiles from the United States and has begun deploying them against Russian targets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on October 17.

Conflict Defense Industry

Memo to...

Oct 10, 2023

Memo to the president: A bold agenda for the Washington summit: How to advance vital US interests by helping Ukraine win and defining its path to NATO membership

The upcoming NATO summit marking the Alliance's seventy-fifth anniversary presents an opportunity for US leadership to meet this danger by taking steps to provide Ukraine the means to win the war and by setting a clear path for Ukraine’s membership in NATO.

Central Europe Conflict

In the News

Oct 9, 2023

Lagadec in Tydenikhrot on NATO burden-sharing

By Erwan Lagadec

On October 9, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Erwan Lagadec was mentioned in an article in Tydenikhrot examining NATO’s two percent threshold (text in Czech).

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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Experts

Fellow

AM Sir Christopher Harper, KBE, RAF (Ret.)

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Staff

Lisa Homel

Associate Director

Europe Center

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia National Security

Fellow

LeAnne Noelani Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

James Hursch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fellow

Beniamino Irdi

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Disinformation English
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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