TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

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

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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.

Content

Issue Brief

Mar 31, 2025

Why NATO’s Defence Planning Process will transform the Alliance for decades to come

By Angus Lapsley and Pierre Vandier

NATO’s successes over the last seventy-six years are the result of constant adaptation, and the Alliance is now going through its most profound changes since the end of the Cold War.

Europe & Eurasia International Organizations

Inflection Points

Mar 31, 2025

‘What you’re witnessing is a revolution.’ Making sense of Trump’s head-spinning moves.

By Frederick Kempe

As the past week made clear, the Trump administration is pushing ahead with what it sees as a revolution in the US approach to the world.

Economy & Business NATO
Canada flag waving in Ottawa.

Issue Brief

Mar 27, 2025

Canada needs an economic statecraft strategy to address its vulnerabilities

By Kimberly Donovan, Maia Nikoladze, Lize de Kruijf

To address threats from Russia and China and reduce trade overdependence on the United States, Canada’s federal government will need to consolidate economic power and devise an economic statecraft strategy that will leverage Canada’s economic tools to mitigate economic threats and vulnerabilities.

China Cybersecurity

In the News

Mar 26, 2025

Michta published in 19FortyFive on uncertainty around NATO’s future and US strategy

On March 26, Andrew Michta, senior fellow in the GeoStrategy Initiative, published an article in 19FortyFive on how the Trump administration’s transatlantic policy could fundamentally alter NATO. He argues that closer relations between Washington and Moscow “risks undoing the last eighty years of US national security strategy” in Europe.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 25, 2025

Peace requires more than a handshake: Misreading Russia’s war aims will prolong Putin’s aggression

By Zak Schneider

Understanding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ideological motivations for invading Ukraine is essential to negotiating a lasting peace.

Conflict Defense Policy

Report

Mar 24, 2025

Why democracies stick together: The theory and empirics behind alliance formation

By Markus Jaeger

Democratic peace theory holds that democracies do not go to war with each other. The democratic alliance hypothesis suggests democracies prefer alliances with fellow democracies over nondemocratic powers. If both theories hold, US foreign policy should prioritize democratization, as prosperous, democratic nations are less likely to align with authoritarian states.

China Freedom and Prosperity

In the News

Mar 17, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the New York Times on Europe’s nuclear posture and US deterrence  

On March 15, Matthew Kroenig, vice president and senior director of the Scowcroft Center, was quoted in the New York Times on European leaders’ discussion of replacing US nuclear protection with European capabilities. He argues that Europe does not have sufficient resources to replace the nuclear umbrella provided by the United States.  

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 13, 2025

NATO’s capability development: A call for urgent reform

By David Julazadeh

NATO must make major reforms to streamline its capability development process if the Alliance is to keep up with the pace of modern warfare.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

TURKEYSource

Mar 12, 2025

Now more than ever, the United States needs a Black Sea strategy

By Arnold C. Dupuy

Peace and prosperity in the Black Sea will require more than a cease-fire in Ukraine; it will require a new Black Sea security and development strategy.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Mar 10, 2025

Kroenig quoted in the Wall Street Journal on Europe’s reaction to President Trump’s foreign policy

On March 7, Matthew Kroenig, vice president and senior director of the Scowcroft Center, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal on European leaders “overreacting” to US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy. He argues that, on balance, the NATO alliance “emerged stronger” at the end of the first Trump administration.   

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Experts