Transatlantic Security Initiative Commentary & Analysis

All timely commentary & analysis

Nuclear-powered US aircraft carrier

In the News

Apr 26, 2020

Brzezinski and Skaluba cited in the Economist on COVID-19’s impact on defense spending

By Ian Brzezinski and Chris Skaluba

Ian Brzezinski and Chris Skaluba quoted on the likelihood that COVID-19 will drive down defense spending and the implications that has for reigniting the burden-sharing debate in NATO.

Coronavirus Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Apr 23, 2020

NATO’s defense depends on mobility

By David A. Wemer

Military mobility—the ability to move massive amounts of troops and military equipment across territory and national borders rapidly—has warranted increasing attention from NATO policymakers over the last few years, but significant legal, diplomatic, and logistical challenges still need to be overcome—not to mention the sudden impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. “We have made some real progress,” explained US Army Europe Commander General Christopher Cavoli, “but there is a bit of work left to be done.”

NATO

In the News

Apr 22, 2020

Starling writes article on European military mobility in Defense One

By Atlantic Council

Deputy Director of Forward Defense Clementine Starling reviews the successes of and challenges to European military mobility in the wake of COVID-19, and advances four solutions.

Coronavirus Defense Policy

New Atlanticist

Apr 16, 2020

NATO allies have stepped up to help each other during coronavirus emergency

By David A. Wemer

Although the coronavirus pandemic has strained the medical infrastructure and economies of countries across Europe and North America, NATO allies “are coming to the rescue of those in need,” NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said on April 16. Despite initial focuses on the dire situation within each country’s own borders, Geoană reported that he has seen “this almost natural reaction to come to the assistance of our neighbors.”

Coronavirus NATO

New Atlanticist

Apr 15, 2020

NATO in the fight against coronavirus: Coordinating, contributing, controlling, and communicating

By Conor Rodihan and Connor McPartland

NATO’s proven capabilities to respond to the call of its Allies and support them in times of greatest need ensures that the Alliance will be able to emerge from this crisis strong and ready to take on the next challenge.

Coronavirus NATO

In the News

Apr 13, 2020

Brzezinski in The Hill: We need a US-European Partnership Recovery Program

By Ian Brzezinski

Ian Brzezinski co-published an op-ed on the need for a strong US and European economic partnership.

Coronavirus Economy & Business

In the News

Apr 10, 2020

Binnendijk and Skaluba in Defense One: NATO Should Always Work From Home

By Christopher Skaluba, Hans Binnendijk

Christopher Skaluba and Hans Binnendijk co-published a commentary piece about how NATO has been impacted with stay at home orders from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2020

Six reasons NATO’s Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre is important for our future security

By Lauren Speranza

Even as the Alliance continues to focus on its core defense and deterrence efforts—and rightly so—it should not dismiss capabilities like the EADRCC as bureaucratic side projects. Instead, with an eye to the future, transatlantic policymakers should rethink how to empower and reinforce these types of capabilities to meet different types of threats.

Coronavirus Crisis Management

New Atlanticist

Apr 7, 2020

New British carriers can transform Europe’s NATO naval capabilities

By Michael John Williams

In the wake of economic calamity, now is the perfect time for European militaries to work together to maximize their resources and military readiness. No better opportunity exists than to use HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales as hubs for a European carrier strike group.

Maritime Security NATO

New Atlanticist

Mar 30, 2020

Coronavirus and transatlantic security: Implications for defense planning

By Christopher Skaluba and Ian Brzezinski

Once the West gains control over the coronavirus, NATO and its national defense establishments will have to conduct a hard-nosed assessment of the longer-term military implications and requirements that flow from the current reality—that pandemics can, within weeks, debilitate populations, sink economies, shutter borders, degrade military operations, and fragment unity among the closest of allies.

Coronavirus Crisis Management