Transatlantic Security Initiative Commentary & Analysis

All timely commentary & analysis

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

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

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

New Atlanticist

Jun 4, 2025

The UK Strategic Defence Review lays out an ambitious roadmap for reform. Will the government deliver?

By AM Sir Christopher Harper, KBE, RAF (Ret.)

The review is a positive step toward revitalizing the United Kingdom’s defense posture, but its success will depend on funding and follow-through.

Conflict Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

May 30, 2025

How NATO’s eastern flank is setting the standard for collective defense

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

NATO's eastern flank countries have shown that regional coordination can transform vulnerabilities into strategic assets that enhance deterrence and operational readiness.

Central Europe Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

May 22, 2025

The case for a Three Seas Defense Innovation Hub

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Because of increasing threats to critical energy, transport, and digital infrastructure, the Three Seas Initiative should add defense innovation as another pillar of its mission.

Central Europe Eastern Europe

Feature

May 13, 2025

Budginaite-Froehly in Wall Street Journal discussing Rail Baltica

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

Transatlantic Security Initiative and Europe Center nonresident senior fellow, Justina Budginaite-Froehly, appeared in the Wall Street Journal to discuss how Europe’s strategic $27 billion railway project is addressing NATO concerns about Russian aggression in Europe.

NATO Non-Traditional Threats

New Atlanticist

May 7, 2025

Lessons from Latvia’s efforts to keep essential services running during a crisis

By Mārcis Balodis and Marta Kepe

Latvia has shifted its crisis-management thinking from a focus on infrastructure protection to an emphasis on continuity of essential services and functions.

Crisis Management Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

May 6, 2025

Is China or Russia the bigger threat to the United States? There’s a clear answer.

By Richard D. Hooker, Jr.

The Trump administration’s apparent “China first” approach risks underappreciating the threat from Moscow and overestimating the current threat from Beijing.

China Russia

New Atlanticist

May 5, 2025

What’s the best way to deal with Russian information manipulation? Latvia has answers.

By Elīna Vrobļevska and Beniamino Irdi

By combining policy tools, public education, media support, active debunking, and international partnerships, Latvia has built a layered defense.

Disinformation Europe & Eurasia