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

Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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
Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

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

UkraineAlert

Sep 19, 2023

Putin “knows very well” NATO poses no security threat to Russia

By Peter Dickinson

Russia's recent demilitarization of its NATO borders proves that Putin does not view alliance as a genuine security threat and makes a complete mockery of Kremlin propaganda blaming the invasion of Ukraine on NATO, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Sep 15, 2023

Zeneli featured in Voice of America on the recent round of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina

By Alexander Vershbow

On September 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Valbona Zeneli was quoted in Voice of America on the recent round of Brussels negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina and arguing that the talks leave uncertain prospects for real progress (text in Serbian). 

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Sep 15, 2023

The pathway to NATO’s ‘2/20’ goal is through real growth of defense spending

By Wayne Schroeder

Next year’s NATO Summit in Washington is a golden opportunity for the Alliance to endorse a defense real growth pathway to its “2/20” guideline.

Defense Policy National Security

UkraineAlert

Sep 12, 2023

US expected to decide soon on long-range missiles for Ukraine

By Benton Coblentz

ATACMS missiles would greatly increase Ukraine’s ability to strike the logistical networks supporting Russia's invasion and would make it increasingly difficult for Putin’s army to operate inside Ukraine, writes Benton Coblentz.

Conflict Maritime Security

In the News

Sep 12, 2023

Jeglinskas featured in delfi.lt on NATO’s response to a Russian drone landing in Romania

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas

On September 12, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Giedrimas Jeglinskas was quoted in delfi.lt commenting on NATO’s response to the Russian drone falling in Romania (text in Lithuanian). 

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Sep 11, 2023

Kepe featured in Task&Purpose on the the importance of defending the Suwalki Gap

By Marta Kepe

On September 11, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Marta Kepe was quoted in Task&Purpose on the US deployment to Europe and the importance of defending the Suwalki Gap.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Sep 9, 2023

Jeglinskas featured in LNK.lt on the cancellation of a major Russian major military exercise

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas

On September 9, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Giedrimas Jeglinskas was mentioned in LNK.lt discussing the cancellation of Zapad, a major Russian major military exercise (text in Lithuanian). 

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Sep 7, 2023

Townsend featured in Politico discussing NATO’s new China-focused intel chief

By James J. Townsend Jr.

On September 7, Transatlantic Security Initiative Senior Advisor Jim Townsend was quoted in Politico discussing NATO’s new China-focused intel chief. 

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Sep 6, 2023

Michta in The Wall Street Journal on stationing US troops in Poland

By Atlantic Council

On September 5, Dr. Andrew Michta, nonresident senior fellow in the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, argued that the United States should build a permanent military installation in Poland in an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal. He asserts that—while Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have not met NATO’s spending target and are even reducing […]

NATO Security & Defense

In the News

Sep 4, 2023

Yevgeniya Gaber joins Al-Monitor for commentary on President Erdogan-Putin meeting
Conflict Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Elisabeth Braw

Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Resilience & Society

Fellow

Henrik Breitenbauch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Danish Defense Industry

Fellow

Ian Brzezinski

Senior Fellow

Europe Center Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Defense Policy

Fellow

Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry European Union

Fellow

David M. Cattler

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry English

Fellow

Chung-Yu Chou

Former Visiting Military Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict
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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