TRACKING NATO SPENDING

Trackers and Data Visualizations

Jun 20, 2025

NATO Defense Spending Tracker

By Kristen Taylor

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

FEATURED EVENTS

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.

Content

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

Inflection Points

Mar 10, 2025

Here’s a Ukraine peace plan Trump can use to deter—not appease—Putin

By Frederick Kempe

Putting the possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine squarely on the table provides leverage in negotiations with Russia, a new essay argues.

Conflict NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2025

The real reason Russia invaded Ukraine (hint: it’s not NATO expansion)

By Andrew A. Michta

Russia invaded Ukraine not because of NATO expansion, but because the West failed to back up Europe’s post-Cold War security architecture with hard power.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Mar 5, 2025

Luetkefend co-authors essay with Army War College focused on Germany’s foreign policy shift since 2022

On February 27, Theresa Luetkefend, an Assistant Director in the Forward Defense program, co-authored an essay with Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, through the US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. Luetkefend’s essay, titled “The International Dimension: NATO, the EU, and Multinational Cooperation,” was featured in a broader report called Assessing the […]

English Europe & Eurasia
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen give a statement before a meeting with EU Commissioners in Brussels, Belgium, January 11, 2023.REUTERS/Johanna Geron

Issue Brief

Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Mar 3, 2025

Murray on Bloomberg News on the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank

By Atlantic Council

On March 3rd, Rob Murray, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was interviewed on Bloomberg new to discuss DSR.

Defense Industry International Financial Institutions

In the News

Mar 1, 2025

Pınar Dost talked to Al Monitor on Turkey’s role on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire.

Conflict Eastern Europe

UkraineAlert

Feb 28, 2025

Putin uses NATO as an excuse for his war against Ukrainian statehood

By Peter Dickinson

Vladimir Putin claims his invasion of Ukraine was provoked by NATO expansion but his efforts to eradicate Ukrainian identity in areas under Russian occupation and his insistence regarding Ukraine's complete disarmament reveal his ultimate goal of erasing Ukrainian statehood entirely, writes Peter Dickinson.

Civil Society Conflict

UkraineAlert

Feb 27, 2025

The Finlandization fallacy: Ukrainian neutrality will not stop Putin’s Russia

By Brian Mefford

Donald Trump seeks to broker a peace deal with Vladimir Putin but any attempt to impose neutrality on Ukraine could set the stage for further Russian aggression, writes Brian Mefford.

Conflict European Union

Experts