NATO

NATO

From June 24 to 25, heads of state and government gathered at the NATO Summit in The Hague, where they agreed on a new commitment to spend 5 percent of gross domestic product on defense by 2035. Check out our commentary, analysis, and events covering the convening, courtesy of our experts.

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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

Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

New Atlanticist Jun 27, 2025

Four fundamental questions the NATO Summit did not answer

By Torrey Taussig

Over the coming months, NATO allies will have to wrestle with questions about the US commitment to Europe, their shared approach to China, and more.
Conflict Defense Industry
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

Inflection Points Jun 26, 2025

Dispatch from The Hague: It’s been Trump’s week in Europe and Iran

By Frederick Kempe

What connects the recent events in Iran and at the NATO Summit is that they won’t be remembered for the threats countered but rather for the opportunities seized.
Europe & Eurasia Iran
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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
Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

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

FEATURED EVENTS

Online Event Thu, July 3, 2025 • 4:00 am ET

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Europe’s security after the NATO Summit

AN #ACFRONTPAGE EVENT—Finnish President Alexander Stubb shares his conclusions from the NATO Summit in The Hague and how Europe must adapt its approach to security.

Conflict Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia European Union
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.

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Content

In the News

Jul 6, 2022

Garlauskas discusses significance of ROK relationship with NATO on Voice of America’s “Washington Talk”

On July 2, Markus Garlauskas was featured on the “Washington Talk” show for Voice of America. Garlauskas spoke on the significance of the Republic of Korea’s growing relationship with NATO, in the context of President Yoon’s recent visit to the NATO Summit, during which European and Asian allies strategized collective deterrence strategies against threats from […]

China Defense Policy

Transcript

Jul 6, 2022

Gen. James Jones: ‘the Black Sea region is being pounded into the soft underbelly of security in Europe’

Atlantic Council Board Director and Executive Chairman Emeritus James L. Jones, Jr highlights the significance of US-Romania relations and next steps for a Black Sea security strategy.

Arms Control Defense Policy

In the News

Jul 5, 2022

Skaluba in Defense One: G7 To Ban Import of Russian Gold as Bombs Hit Kyiv Kindergarten

By Christopher Skaluba

Chris Skaluba was quoted in Defense One discussing the critical roles institutions such as the G7 and the EU have played in punishing Moscow.

English Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jul 5, 2022

Scheunemann in LA Times: Russia has unified NATO, but Biden, G7 allies face mounting challenges

By Leah Scheunemann

Leah Scheunemann was quoted in LA Times discussing how NATO is adapting its posture to reinforce front-line states that border Russia.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

UkraineAlert

Jul 4, 2022

Why Ukraine loves Boris

By Peter Dickinson

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's domestic approval rating has hit rock bottom but he is the most popular foreign politician in Ukraine thanks to his support for the country in its fight against Vladimir Putin's invasion.

Conflict National Security

UkraineAlert

Jul 3, 2022

Putin’s poisonous anti-Western ideology relies heavily on projection

By Allan Mustard

Vladimir Putin's poisonous anti-Western ideology is rooted in projection of his own authoritarian instincts and outdated assumptions about the adversarial nature of relations between Russia and the democratic world.

Conflict Democratic Transitions

Inflection Points

Jul 2, 2022

Special dispatch from Madrid: At NATO’s historic summit, good scores points on evil, but it’s not enough to stop Putin’s Ukraine war

By Frederick Kempe

Despite the successes of the NATO summit, Russia's missile strike on a Ukrainian shopping mall put the brutality of Putin's war into stark relief.

Conflict Eastern Europe

In the News

Jul 2, 2022

Scheunemann in GRID on NATO’s evolution towards China

By Leah Scheunemann

Leah Scheunemann was quoted in GRID discussing NATO's evolution towards China, particularly in the ways China challenges the interests, security and values of NATO.

China Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jul 1, 2022

Summit speed read: How the G7 and NATO pushed back on Putin

By Daniel Fried

The free world’s leading institutions did a lot this week—but the war still hangs in the balance. Here's what was agreed to and what is yet to be accomplished.

Conflict Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

In the News

Jul 1, 2022

Townsend in VOA News: Biden thanks Erdogan for Dropping Veto on Sweden, Finland NATO Bids

By James J. Townsend Jr.

Jim Townsend discusses the capabilities and strategic advantages Sweden and Finland will bring to NATO.

Conflict Eastern Europe
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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

Associate Director

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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