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

Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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
Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

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

Jul 17, 2023

Feldman-Piltch in Non-State Actress on Senate holds on military confirmations

By Maggie Feldman-Piltch

On July 17, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Maggie Feldman-Piltch wrote the latest edition of her project “Non-State Actress.” In this edition, Feldman-Piltch explained what it means when a single Senator holds up all military confirmations and promotions and the implications for American governance. The Non-State Actress project is made possible by generous support […]

Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jul 16, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Spanish La Razón

Anna Wieslander was interviewed on how Sweden will contribute to NATO’s collective security and the reaction from Russia. “Sweden has a modern and professional Armed Forces and an advanced defense industrial base. weden possesses a highly advanced air force, with the Swedish JAS Gripen fighter aircraft at its core. In addition, Sweden’s significant naval power, […]

NATO Northern Europe

Inflection Points

Jul 15, 2023

Dispatch from Vilnius: Inside a NATO Summit of high drama on Ukraine—and historic opportunity

By Frederick Kempe

The fireworks were unusual in a consensus-driven Alliance that values decorum and discretion. But the summit still yielded several strategic wins.

Conflict NATO

In the News

Jul 15, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Svenska Dagbladet

Wieslander explains that she worked on NATO standardization in the 1990s at the Swedish Ministry of Defence. There she was responsible for the work on the partnership that Sweden entered into with the alliance. “Nevertheless, for various reasons, the countries have chosen to make national solutions and variants of a lot of different things, and […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jul 15, 2023

Wieslander interviewed by Finnish YLE

“If Turkey had not given Sweden the green light, the Vilnius meeting could not have been considered a success. The negotiations between Sweden and Turkey were difficult and required diplomatic efforts. Ulf Kristersson’s government worked hard on them, alongside the allies and also Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg,” Wieslander told Finnish news outlet YLE.

NATO Northern Europe

TURKEYSource

Jul 14, 2023

With re-election behind him, Erdogan is turning toward the West

By Grady Wilson

Turkey is sending signals to its Western allies that it's ready to strategically align with them. All parties should seize this opportunity.

Conflict Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Jul 13, 2023

Disappointed but not discouraged: Ukrainians react to NATO summit

By Peter Dickinson

The 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius failed to produce a breakthrough toward Ukrainian membership but did underline international support for Ukraine in the fight against Russia's invasion, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Defense Policy

In the News

Jul 13, 2023

Imai on CNBC

On July 12, Kyoko Imai was interviewed by CNBC Asia to discuss Japan’s participation in the NATO Summit and subsequent EU-Japan Summit. She argues that while some question Europe’s ability to juggle both the war in Ukraine and an Indo-Pacific strategy, all existing and potential conflicts have global ramifications.

Europe & Eurasia Indo-Pacific

In the News

Jul 12, 2023

Binnendijk featured in The Washington Times on the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius

By Hans Binnendijk

On July 12, Transatlantic Security Initiative distinguished fellow Hans Binnendijk was quoted in The Washington Times, discussing 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius and how to enhance NATO deterrence along its front line with Russia. 

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jul 12, 2023

Jeglinskas featured in Metro News on the NATO Vilnius summit and Russia’s war in Ukraine

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas

On July 12, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Giedrimas Jeglinskas was interviewed in Metro News, in which he discussed the 2023 NATO Summit outcomes and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
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Experts

Fellow

Kyle Atwell

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Colombia

Fellow

David Auerswald

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Staff

James Batchik

Deputy Director, EU Programs and Operations

Europe Center

Central Europe Digital Policy

Fellow

Andrew Bernard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

NATO Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Hans Binnendijk

Distinguished Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Sara Bjerg Moller

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Danish Europe & Eurasia
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