Security & Defense

State of the Order: Assessing July 2022

The State of the Order breaks down the month's most important events impacting the democratic world order.

Why NATO must make gender central to its security thinking

By Alvina Ahmed

On July 15, the Scowcroft Center's Transatlantic Security Initiative hosted a public conference discussing the importance of incorporating gender perspectives in NATO's strategies as the alliance looks to implement its new Strategic Concept and defend against malign actors.

When will Sweden and Finland join NATO? Tracking the ratification process across the Alliance.

By Atlantic Council experts

With this tracker, the Atlantic Council team is keeping tabs on the countries that have ratified the amended NATO treaty—and handicapping the political prospects for ratification in the rest.

Putin has forced Ukrainians to view Russian culture as a weapon of war

By Kate Tsurkan

Efforts to reduce Russia's cultural footprint in Ukraine have sparked criticism but in reality it is Putin who has weaponized Russian culture and forced Ukrainians to view the likes of Pushkin and Dostoevsky as tools of empire.

Sweden and Finland are on their way to NATO membership. Here’s what needs to happen next.

By John R. Deni

In response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden took the historic step of applying to join NATO. Both nations will bring modern capabilities that will help defend against malign actors. As Finland and Sweden's membership is forthcoming, Alliance leaders, NATO watchers, and transatlantic security experts need to consider how to fully integrate the new allies, include them in operational plans, and best enhance defense of a longer border with Russia.

Russia’s invasion is putting the future of Ukraine’s forests at risk

By Yehor Hrynyk

As the Russian invasion approaches the six-month mark, Ukraine's forests are facing the twin threats of frontline wildfires and wartime emergency economic measures that could lead to a disastrous increase in logging.