NATO

Security & Defense

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive will aim to keep the Russians guessing

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

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

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

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

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

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

2025: The Hague, Netherlands

Recorded events

Video analysis

Select publications

2024: Washington, DC, United States

Landing page: Atlantic Council at the NATO Summit in Washington

Recorded events

Video analysis

Select publications

2023: Vilnius, Lithuania

Recorded events

Ideas to implementation: Priorities for NATO’s Vilnius Summit

Select publications

Prior to 2023

2022: Madrid, Spain

Event: Priorities for the NATO Summit and security in Europe
Publication: The triumphs and question marks from this week’s NATO summit

2021: Brussels, Belgium

Event: A conversation with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
Publication: FAST THINKING: A new era for NATO

2018: Brussels, Belgium

Event: Raising the curtain on the 2018 NATO Brussels Summit
Event: The road to NATO’s Brussels 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

UkraineAlert

Jun 7, 2023

Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive will aim to keep the Russians guessing

By Peter Dickinson

Speculation is mounting that Ukraine's hotly anticipated summer counteroffensive may be underway but initial stages are likely to feature probes and diversionary attacks rather than a big push, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict Drones

In the News

Jun 7, 2023

Skaluba and Townsend in Foreign Policy on Sweden’s bid to join NATO

By James J. Townsend Jr., Christopher Skaluba

On June 7, Transatlantic Security Initiative (TSI) Director Christopher Skaluba and TSI Senior Advisor Jim Townsend were quoted in Foreign Policy discussing Sweden’s push to fast-track delayed NATO bid.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 7, 2023

Export controls: A surprising key to strengthening UK-US military collaboration

By Deborah Cheverton

US allies have been quietly frustrated for decades about the indiscriminate and extraterritorial application of export controls, in particular the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Arms Control Defense Industry

In the News

Jun 7, 2023

Wieslander interviewed in Saab Security Talks

NATO – How does it affect Sweden? A changing environment has led Finland to join NATO and Sweden will soon do the same. What will NATO mean for us from a military, security and industrial perspective?Commander-in-Chief Micael Bydén and Anna Wieslander, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Security and Development Policy, talk with […]

NATO Northern Europe

In the News

Jun 6, 2023

Kroenig and Ashford debate the role of the US in European Security

On June 2, Foreign Policy published its biweekly "It's Debatable" column featuring Scowcroft Center Vice President and Senior Director Matthew Kroenig and Emma Ashford assessing the latest news in international affairs.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Atlantic Council President and CEO Fred Kempe speaks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy with Atlantic Council Chairman John F. W. Rogers

Inflection Points

Jun 4, 2023

Dispatch from Kyiv: Ukraine deserves NATO membership and even more robust weapons

By Frederick Kempe

An Atlantic Council delegation's trip to Kyiv this week highlighted how important additional support is to Ukraine.

Conflict Eastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2023

Five questions (and expert answers) about the recent clashes in Kosovo

By Atlantic Council experts

Protests this week in Kosovo when local officials took office resulted in injuries to NATO peacekeeping troops—and in fears of a further escalation of violence. Atlantic Council experts answer the critical questions.

Conflict Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2023

The G7 can take NATO-EU climate cooperation to the next level

By Francis Shin, Rachel Rizzo

There is a strong opportunity for meaningful NATO-EU cooperation by using the Group of Seven as a convening platform for climate change-related discussions.

Climate Change & Climate Action Energy & Environment

In the News

Jun 1, 2023

Vershbow in The Washington Post on security guarantees for Ukraine

By Alexander Vershbow

On June 1, Transatlantic Security Initiative distinguished fellow Alexander Vershbow was quoted in The Washington Post discussing long-term deterrence and security guarantees for Ukraine.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

New Atlanticist

Jun 1, 2023

Did Macron just dispel Central and Eastern Europe’s skepticism about France?

By Marie Jourdain

French President Emmanuel Macron chose Bratislava, Slovakia, to deliver a speech aimed at reassuring Central and Eastern European partners of France's reliability.

Central Europe France

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Fellow

Rich Outzen

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Atlantic Council Turkey Program

Arabic Central Asia

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Ankara Summit Content Series

How European NATO allies are stepping up, by the numbers

European allies can boost NATO unity at the Ankara summit by accelerating eastern flank deterrence

NATO allies need a plan for addressing threats below the threshold of war

The Ankara summit is an opportunity for NATO to ramp up engagement with its southern neighborhood

Innovation ranges: How NATO can test and deploy cutting-edge capabilities faster

Civilian infrastructure is now a strategic target. NATO must adapt to protect it.

Europe should take the long bet on the US and the transatlantic security relationship

How NATO can strengthen the transatlantic defense industrial base in Ankara and beyond

Europe’s no-panic playbook for a radically different US foreign policy

NATO’s new Arctic presence shows that European allies are stepping up

More European NATO allies should step up help to Ukraine through PURL

NATO can emerge from the Ankara summit stronger. Here’s how.

TRACKING NATO SPENDING

NATO defense spending tracker

FEATURED READING

Eleven takeaways from the NATO Summit in Ankara

Was the NATO Summit a success?

Civilian infrastructure is now a strategic target. NATO must adapt to protect it.

Europe should take the long bet on the US and the transatlantic security relationship

How European NATO allies are stepping up, by the numbers

NATO’s southern flank is exposed. Portugal can help fortify it.

FEATURED EVENTS

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the Ankara Summit Agenda

Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis on the upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara

Belgium’s defense minister on the future of transatlantic security relations

TUNE IN

ARCHIVES: THE ATLANTIC COUNCIL ON THE ROAD TO THE NATO SUMMIT

Programs and initiatives

Content

Ukraine’s summer counteroffensive will aim to keep the Russians guessing

Skaluba and Townsend in Foreign Policy on Sweden’s bid to join NATO

Export controls: A surprising key to strengthening UK-US military collaboration

Wieslander interviewed in Saab Security Talks

Kroenig and Ashford debate the role of the US in European Security

Dispatch from Kyiv: Ukraine deserves NATO membership and even more robust weapons

Five questions (and expert answers) about the recent clashes in Kosovo

The G7 can take NATO-EU climate cooperation to the next level

Vershbow in The Washington Post on security guarantees for Ukraine

Did Macron just dispel Central and Eastern Europe’s skepticism about France?

Experts

Rob Murray

Gabriele Natalizia

Magnus Nordenman

Robert Nurick

Dorian Obreajan

Rich Outzen

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