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

Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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
Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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
Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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
Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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
Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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
Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting

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

Jun 16, 2023

Rich Outzen joins TRT World Strait Talk to discuss Sweden-Finland-Turkey NATO Meeting
Eastern Europe NATO

In the News

Jun 15, 2023

Jeglinskas in IQ on the 2023 NATO Summit

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas

On June 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Giedrimas Jeglinskas was quoted in IQ on the choice of Vilnius, Lithuania for the 2023 NATO summit (text in Lithuanian).

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jun 15, 2023

Deni in Strategi on Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO

By John R. Deni

On June 15, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John Deni was quoted in Strategi commenting on Ukraine’s potential NATO membership (text in Indonesian).

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 14, 2023

The hits and misses in Germany’s new national security strategy

By Atlantic Council experts

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has just released Germany's national security strategy. Atlantic Council experts answer the most urgent questions about the document and the path forward for this major European power.

Defense Policy Germany

UkraineAlert

Jun 14, 2023

Why Ukrainian NATO membership would actually be good for Russia

By Leonid Gozman

Vladimir Putin claims one of the main goals of his Ukraine invasion is to prevent the country joining NATO, but in reality this objective actually goes directly against Russia’s own national interests, writes Leonid Gozman.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

New Atlanticist

Jun 13, 2023

Authoritarian investment in southeastern Europe is a security threat. Here’s what NATO can do.

By Jeffrey Lightfoot and John Kay

Stronger investment screening in Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia will help strengthen NATO against economic weapons that are increasingly central to today’s conflicts.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2023

What’s really behind plans for a NATO office in Japan

By Sara Bjerg Moller

What's really behind Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's recent announcement that his government is exploring opening a NATO-liaison office in Tokyo?

China Indo-Pacific

New Atlanticist

Jun 12, 2023

Should NATO extend Stoltenberg’s term as leader?

By Charles Barry

As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with US President Joe Biden at the White House, the question of the "who" and the "when" of changing NATO's top leader is on the agenda.

Conflict Crisis Management

In the News

Jun 12, 2023

Feldman-Piltch recognized by the US Department of State for her work in Afghan relocation efforts

By Maggie Feldman-Piltch

On June 12, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Maggie Feldman-Piltch was recognized by the US Department of State at a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding with the #AfghanEvac Coalition for her dedicated work in Afghan relocation efforts.

Defense Technologies Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jun 8, 2023

Restocking US and allies’ arsenals starts with getting industry involved at the NATO summit

By Giedrimas Jeglinskas and Viltaute Zarembaite

The upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius offers an opportunity for government officials and the defense industry to get on the same page about the true urgency of inadequate defense supply chains.

Central Europe Defense Industry
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Experts

Staff

Lisa Homel

Associate Director

Europe Center

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia National Security

Fellow

LeAnne Noelani Howard

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

James Hursch

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Fellow

Beniamino Irdi

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Disinformation English

Fellow

David Julazadeh

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Technologies English
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