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

Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

Issue Brief Jun 2, 2025

For NATO in 2027, European leadership will be key to deterrence against Russia

By Scott Lee, Andrew Michta, Peter Jones, and Lisa Bembenick

NATO lacks the operational integration, logistics, and joint force capabilities needed to quickly counter Russian mass and tempo near its borders. With the United States increasingly focused elsewhere, how can the Alliance retain military superiority in 2027 without overreliance on US military might?
Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia
Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

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

FEATURED EVENTS

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

In the News

Jan 9, 2023

Jeglinskas in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian)

On January 9, the Transatlantic Security Initiative’s Nonresident Senior Fellow Giedrimas Jeglinskas was quoted in Delfi News on the difficulty for NATO countries to collectively increasing defense spending (in Lithuanian). 

Europe & Eurasia Lithuanian

In the News

Jan 6, 2023

Zysk in ABC/Nyheter on the difficulties Russian authorities will have continuing to maintain domestic propaganda (in Norwegian)

On January 6, TSI NRSF Katarzyna Zysk was quoted discussing the difficulties Russian authorities will have continuing to maintain domestic propaganda (in Norwegian).  

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Issue Brief

Jan 6, 2023

How allied Sweden and Finland can secure Northern Europe 

By Anna Wieslander, Eric Adamson, Jesper Lehto

NATO is approaching its ninth round of enlargement. The accession of Sweden and Finland—two solid democracies and defenders of the international-rules based order—into the Alliance will strengthen the core of the transatlantic community.

Defense Policy NATO

TURKEYSource

Jan 4, 2023

How NATO can keep pace with hybrid threats in the Black Sea region and beyond

By Arnold C. Dupuy

Russia's targeting of civilian infrastructure in Ukraine reveals the vulnerability of energy systems to hybrid threats, warranting study and research to mitigate the risks.

Conflict Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Jan 3, 2023

Putin is preparing for a long war

By Alexander Motyl

Vladimir Putin used his traditional New Year address on December 31 to mobilize the Russian public for a long war in Ukraine while warning that the West is intent on "destroying Russia," writes Alexander Motyl.

Conflict Disinformation

In the News

Jan 2, 2023

Brzezinski in TVN24 discussing the importance of defense investment in Poland and Germany

By Ian Brzezinski

On January 2, Transatlantic Security Initiative Fellow Ian Brzezinski was quoted in TVN24 discussing the importance of investing in defense and modernization efforts for Poland and Germany (text in Polish).

Europe & Eurasia Germany

In the News

Dec 31, 2022

Zysk in iNews discussing the threat that Russia’s war in Ukraine presents to energy in Europe

By Katarzyna Zysk

On December 31, the Transatlantic Security Initiative’s Nonresident Senior Fellow Katarzyna Zysk was quoted in iNews discussing the implications of possible attacks from the Kremlin on European energy and data links.

Europe & Eurasia Geopolitics & Energy Security

UkraineAlert

Dec 26, 2022

Eight reasons for Ukrainian optimism in 2023

By Brian Mefford

Ukrainians have experienced an incredibly traumatic year but the country enters 2023 with reason for cautious optimism that Vladimir Putin's criminal invasion can be decisively defeated, writes Brian Mefford.

European Union NATO

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Q&A with Lieutenant General (retired) Ben Hodges

Former commanding general of US Army Europe Ben Hodges shares his thoughts on the United States-Turkey defense partnership.

Conflict Europe & Eurasia

Defense Journal by Atlantic Council IN TURKEY

Dec 22, 2022

Turkey’s global military footprint in 2022

By Rich Outzen

A breakdown of Turkey's evolving global military posture and defense partnerships and their effect on US policy and interests.

Conflict Defense Policy
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Experts

Advisory Council member

Clifford Sobel

Former United States Ambassador to Brazil

Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center

Brazil Economy & Business

Fellow

Jason C. Moyer

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fellow

Lisa C. Sawyer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Economy & Business

Expert

Gabrielius Landsbergis

Distinguished Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Lithuanian

Fellow

Samuel Denney

Nonresident Fellow

Transatlantic Security Initiative

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Industry European Union
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