Transatlantic Security Initiative Commentary & Analysis

All timely commentary & analysis

New Atlanticist

Aug 6, 2025

Dispatch from the Russian border: The Curonian Spit and the contest of the Baltic Sea

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

A recent visit to Lithuania’s border with Kaliningrad reveals how the Baltic Sea has become one of Europe’s most contested maritime zones.

Eastern Europe NATO

New Atlanticist

Aug 6, 2025

Europe’s play to keep Trump happy cannot come at the expense of a longer-term strategy

By Torrey Taussig, Josh Lipsky

Even as the EU prioritizes defense and security interests with the US, it could come at the cost of economic and political cohesion in the bloc.

European Union NATO

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2025

To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

By James Hursch, Kristen Taylor

Without more industrial muscle to increase defense production, the positive momentum coming out of The Hague summit could grind to a halt.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2025

Macron and Starmer have a plan to reset Anglo-French relations. What’s in this ‘Entente Industrielle’?

By Philippe Dickinson

The French president’s three-day trip to the United Kingdom saw several notable and welcome announcements. But the real test will be what comes next.

Defense Industry France

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2025

Three ways NATO can shift defense industrial capacity into high gear

By David Julazadeh, Kristen Taylor

The Alliance’s deterrence rests on more than unity—it depends on speed, readiness, and industrial credibility.

Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

Article

Jul 8, 2025

Braw in Foreign Policy on the virtues of joint procurement

By Elisabeth Braw

On May 5, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior fellow Elisabeth Braw was published in Foreign Policy in an article describing new cooperative defense industrial base ties in Europe that are emerging in an environment of uncertainty and geopolitical tension.

New Atlanticist

Jul 3, 2025

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on why The Hague summit marks ‘the birth of new NATO’

By Katherine Golden

There is significant “burden shifting” underway in NATO, which is “a good thing for Europe and for the Alliance right now,” Stubb said at an Atlantic Council Front Page event.

Conflict Defense Industry

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

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

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