TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

By Kristen Taylor

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

The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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
The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

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.

Learn more

Content

New Atlanticist

Jul 7, 2023

The view from Vilnius: NATO needs speed and scale to ensure deterrence 

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas

The real test of the July 11-12 NATO Summit will be whether leaders take the opportunity to increase the Alliance's deterrence.

Conflict
Eastern Europe

In the News

Jul 7, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by BBC on Sweden’s NATO prospects
NATO
Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 6, 2023

Agachi in VOA News on NATO allies actions in Vilnius regarding China

On July 6, the Transatlantic Security Initiative’s associate director Anca Agachi was quoted in a VOA news article discussing the actions NATO allies are seeking in Vilnius regarding China.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 6, 2023

Ukraine needs NATO membership, not an ‘Israel model’

By Ian Brzezinski

Granting NATO membership to Ukraine is critical to ensuring it wins the war against Russia quickly and decisively.

Israel
NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 5, 2023

Here’s the ‘concrete’ path for Ukraine to join NATO

By Franklin D. Kramer, Hans Binnendijk, Christopher Skaluba

The upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius should establish a High Level Group to design a roadmap for Ukraine’s fast-track membership.

Conflict
Crisis Management

In the News

Jul 5, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on Radio Sweden

P1 Morgon President Biden and Swedish prime minister Kristersson met in Washington, D.C. to discuss Sweden’s accession to NATO. Sveriges Radio speaks to Anna Wieslander, Director for Northern Europe at the Atlantic Council.

NATO
Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 5, 2023

Wieslander quoted in Washington Post

Biden meets with Swedish prime minister to bolster country’s bid to join NATO Biden’s meeting with Kristersson sent an important signal to Turkey that the United States will stand by Sweden, but it remains to be seen whether a last-ditch push from the White House changes the timeline or trajectory. “It is important that it […]

NATO
Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 4, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on Radio Sweden

Swedish PM to meet US President Biden Wednesday evening to discuss NATO Sweden’s PM Ulf Kristersson will meet with US President Joe Biden Wednesday evening to discuss Sweden’s entry into NATO. Anna Wieslander, director of Northern Europe at Atlantic Council, says that the meeting will possibly give new energy into the process of NATO accession […]

NATO
Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 2, 2023

Dahl in Omni on NATO’s nuclear deterrence

By Ann-Sofie Dahl

On July 2, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Ann-Sofie Dahl was quoted in Omni on NATO’s nuclear weapons policy (in Swedish).

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

In the News

Jun 30, 2023

Wieslander interviewed on Radio Sweden

P1 Morgon The NATO summit in Vilnius is coming up in a couple of weeks and it seems doubtful that Sweden will be a member of NATO. What does this mean for Sweden and NATO? What are the main risks? Reporter Mikael Kulle speaks to Michael Claesson, Chief of the Defense Staff and Anna Wieslander, […]

NATO
Northern Europe
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Experts

Fellow

LeAnne Noelani Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Jeppe Kofod

Distinguished Fellow

Global Energy Center

Energy & Environment Europe & Eurasia

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Andrea Rigoni

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Cybersecurity Digital Policy

Fellow

Joanna Siekiera

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Rule of Law Polish

Advisory Council member

Clifford Sobel

Former United States Ambassador to Brazil

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business
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