NATO

NATO

From July 7 to 8, 2026, heads of state and government  gathered at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, where allies sought to capitalize on the success of 2025’s landmark defense spending pledge and begin converting cash into capabilities. Check out our commentary, analysis, and events covering the convening and our latest analysis on NATO, courtesy of our experts.

Ankara Summit Content Series

These articles are part of a series featuring Atlantic Council experts’ analysis and recommendations on the key challenges facing allies at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, and beyond.

How European NATO allies are stepping up, by the numbers

This year’s NATO Summit takes place at a critical time for the Alliance. With no marquee deliverable like last year, NATO leadership will point to progress from European allies on defense spending, defense industrial production, and aid to Ukraine.

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European allies can boost NATO unity at the Ankara summit by accelerating eastern flank deterrence

Ahead of the upcoming summit, European allies should commit to accelerating their deployment of full-strength combat brigades to the Baltic states by 2027.

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NATO allies need a plan for addressing threats below the threshold of war

NATO should take on a more active role in coordinating the response to attacks below the threshold of war. Specifically, the Alliance should use the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara to establish response options for its member states.

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The Ankara summit is an opportunity for NATO to ramp up engagement with its southern neighborhood

NATO’s engagement with its southern neighborhood has been inconsistent, despite growing security challenges. The Ankara summit offers and opportunity to strengthen dialogue with regional partners and reinforce NATO’s southern strategy.

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Innovation ranges: How NATO can test and deploy cutting-edge capabilities faster

The Ankara summit offers allies an opportunity to absorb the lessons from innovation ranges and revitalize the defense innovation pipeline.

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Civilian infrastructure is now a strategic target. NATO must adapt to protect it.

To help build resilience, NATO allies should integrate Nordic, Baltic, and Ukrainian “total defense” practices into NATO planning and exercises.

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Europe should take the long bet on the US and the transatlantic security relationship

At the upcoming Ankara summit, European allies should underscore their increased defense spending and their tangible contributions to shared security.

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How NATO can strengthen the transatlantic defense industrial base in Ankara and beyond

The NATO Summit in Ankara is an opportunity to advance a stronger, more integrated transatlantic defense industrial base.

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Europe’s no-panic playbook for a radically different US foreign policy

NATO and the EU need to make significant, lasting changes in response to Trump 2.0 national security policy–quickly, and ideally in coordination with Washington.

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NATO’s new Arctic presence shows that European allies are stepping up

Heading into the Ankara summit, the Arctic region offers a prime example of where European allies are stepping up and laying the groundwork for deeper cooperation.

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More European NATO allies should step up help to Ukraine through PURL

NATO’s Ankara summit is an opportunity for allies to expand participation in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), which funds US-made military equipment for Ukraine.

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NATO can emerge from the Ankara summit stronger. Here’s how.

Allies can strengthen the Alliance by continuing to increase defense spending, accelerating joint capability development, and sustaining their support for Ukraine.

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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

Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Dispatches Jul 9, 2026

Eleven takeaways from the NATO Summit in Ankara 

By Atlantic Council experts

Atlantic Council experts break down the most important developments coming out of the Ankara summit.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Fast Thinking Jul 8, 2026

Was the NATO Summit a success?

By Atlantic Council

Atlantic Council experts break down an eventful two days in Ankara.
NATO Security & Defense
Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Dispatches Jul 2, 2026

Civilian infrastructure is now a strategic target. NATO must adapt to protect it.

Allies must preserve the ability to move, reinforce, sustain, communicate, mobilize, and, if necessary, fight under conditions of disruption.
Europe & Eurasia NATO
Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Dispatches Jul 2, 2026

Europe should take the long bet on the US and the transatlantic security relationship

By Ian Brzezinski, Philippe Dickinson

In Ankara, European leaders must seize the opportunity to reinforce the long-term foundations of the Alliance.
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Dispatches Jun 23, 2026

How European NATO allies are stepping up, by the numbers

By Kristen Taylor, Matt Trunkey

Expect NATO leadership to focus on three main issues: defense spending, defense industrial production, and aid to Ukraine.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
Michta in Hospodářské Noviny discussing transatlantic arms production capabilities

Dispatches Jun 17, 2026

NATO’s southern flank is exposed. Portugal can help fortify it.

By Randi Charno Levine

The Alliance was not designed to focus only on its easter flank. Vulnerabilities to NATO’s south are accumulating faster than strategy is adapting.
Maritime Security NATO

FEATURED EVENTS

Private Event Thu, June 25, 2026 • 1:45 pm ET

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the Ankara Summit Agenda

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte lays out his priorities for the upcoming Ankara summit.

Central Europe Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia European Union
Public Event Wed, June 17, 2026 • 3:30 pm ET

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—The Atlantic Council hosts Senators Shaheen and Tillis for a conversation on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara.
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense
Public Event Tue, April 28, 2026 • 10:15 am ET

Belgium’s defense minister on the future of transatlantic security relations

Minister of Defense of Belgium Theo Francken shares his views on transatlantic security developments and Belgium’s role in Europe’s growing defense industry.
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia NATO Politics & Diplomacy

TUNE IN

ARCHIVES: THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL ON THE ROAD TO THE NATO SUMMIT

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.

Learn more

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Content

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
People look out of the window of a house on a flooded street following a storm in the village of Pribrezhe, Crimea November 28, 2023. REUTERS/Alexey Pavlishak

New Atlanticist

Nov 30, 2023

Russian War Report: Pro-Kremlin surrogates accuse the US of using ‘climate weapons’ in Crimea

By Digital Forensic Research Lab

Following a severe storm in the Black Sea heavily impacted Crimea, pro-Kremlin sources circulated a conspiracy suggesting the US used a weather weapon.

Artificial Intelligence Climate Change & Climate Action

In the News

Nov 28, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on Radio Sweden

P1 Morgon On November 28, NATO foreign ministers met in Brussels. Sveriges Radio speaks to Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council, discussing how close or far away Sweden is from NATO membership. In response to the question of whether Sweden is in too much of a hurry to become a NATO […]

NATO Northern Europe

UkraineAlert

Nov 28, 2023

Putin debunks his own propaganda by disarming Russia’s NATO borders

By Peter Dickinson

Putin publicly blames NATO for provoking the invasion of Ukraine, but Russia's recent demilitarization of the country's borders with neighboring NATO members makes a mockery of such claims, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

In the News

Nov 28, 2023

Wieslander on BerlinsideOut’s podcast

Northern Outlooks: New Germany-scepticism in the Nordics? On November 28, Anna Wieslander participated in BerlinsideOut’s podcast episode “Northern Outlook: New Germany-scepticism in the Nordics?”. Along with Minna Ålander, Tuomas Iso-Markku, and Kim Olsen she discussed Germany’s relationship with the Nordic countries of Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. With Finland having joined NATO to counter the […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Nov 22, 2023

Michta in Politico discussing how a “federalized” EU would impact US interests

By Atlantic Council

On November 21, Dr. Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was published in Politico on proposed European Union treaty revisions that “would transform the EU from a confederation of sovereign countries into a unitary federal entity.” Dr. Michta argues that, while this shift has been ignored by US policymakers, it […]

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

In the News

Nov 14, 2023

Michta on bne IntelliNews discussing NATO membership for Ukraine

By Atlantic Council

On November 14, an interview with Dr. Andrew Michta, director and senior fellow of the Scowcroft Strategy Initiative, was published by bne IntelliNews on his support for NATO membership for Ukraine and the future of US force structure in Europe.

Conflict NATO

In the News

Nov 14, 2023

Feldman-Piltch in Washington Post at the March for Israel demonstration

By Maggie Feldman-Piltch

On November 14, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Maggie Feldman-Piltch was interviewed by the Washington Post to discuss her views on the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. The Non-State Actress project is made possible by generous support from the German Federal Foreign Office, whom we […]

Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Paolo Messa

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Leo Michel

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia European Union

Fellow

Andrew A. Michta

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Fellow

Rebecca R. Moore

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Ioana Moraru 

Policy Officer, NATO

Millennium Leadership Program

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fellow

Jason C. Moyer

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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