Europe & Eurasia

Europe & Eurasia

Stretching from the shores of the Atlantic to the mountains of Central Asia, the European and Eurasian landmass contains both some of the most stable and wealthy countries in the world, as well as some of the poorest and those led by repressive regimes. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine launched in 2022 has transformed the region’s security and launched economic, political, and defense issues into the global limelight, emphasizing the necessity of increased regional and transatlantic cooperation.

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Featured Reading

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

Inflection Points
Jun 26, 2026

Secretary General Mark Rutte on Trump, Europe, and the future of NATO

By
Frederick Kempe

Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe sits down with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

Dispatches
May 22, 2026

Washington’s latest force posture moves have Europeans feeling whiplash

By
Daniel Fried, Torrey Taussig

The announcement on sending US troops to Poland didn’t stop Washington’s other force posture decisions from generating concern among NATO allies.

Eastern Europe
Europe & Eurasia

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

Atlantic Council Strategy Paper Series
May 13, 2026

A US and allied strategy for Greenland

By
the Atlantic Council Task Force on Greenland

After US rhetoric about taking control of Greenland exacerbated tensions between Washington and European allies in January, the US, Greenland, and Denmark opened discussions about the US presence in the autonomous territory. In parallel, the Atlantic Council’s Task Force on Greenland brought together transatlantic expertise to explore the underlying issues and find a productive path forward.

Greenland
Northern Europe

featured events

Online Event
Thu, June 25, 2026 • 1:45 pm ET

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the Ankara summit agenda

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte lays out his priorities for the upcoming Ankara summit.

Europe & Eurasia
NATO
United States and Canada


Public Event
Wed, November 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Intent to destroy: Confronting Russia’s campaign to erase Ukraine and its people

In this conference hosted by the Strategic Litigation Project and the Eurasia Center, experts will identify strategies to halt Russia’s campaign of atrocities against the Ukrainian people.

Civil Society
Conflict
Crisis Management
Security & Defense


The Russia Tomorrow series

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 challenged much of the common Western understanding of Russia. How can the world better understand Russia? What are the steps forward for Western policy? The Eurasia Center’s new “Russia Tomorrow” series seeks to reevaluate conceptions of Russia today and better prepare for its future tomorrow.

Read More

Russia Tomorrow

The CRINK: Inside the new bloc supporting Russia’s war against Ukraine

by Angela Stent

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series details how Russia’s war against Ukraine has brought together a new set of partners–united not by shared values, but by shared grievances–on the international stage: China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

In-depth Research & reports

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

Russia Tomorrow
Dec 12, 2025

The Russian economy in 2025: Between stagnation and militarization 

By
Elina Ribakova, Lucas Risinger

The latest report in the Atlantic Council’s Russia Tomorrow series examines the Russian wartime economy.

Economy & Business
Europe & Eurasia

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

Report
Jan 14, 2026

Digital sovereignty: Europe’s declaration of independence?

By
Frances Burwell, Kenneth Propp

In Brussels, “digital sovereignty” may be the new “strategic autonomy”: a push for Europe to go its own way and depend less on the United States. As US tech companies and EU regulators clash, catch up on a policy debate with consequences playing out online and in the halls of power.

Digital Policy
Economy & Business

programs

The Europe Center promotes the transatlantic leadership and strategies required to ensure a strong Europe.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

The Eurasia Center’s mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East.

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Within the Atlantic Council’s longstanding commitment to strengthening the transatlantic relationship, the Atlantic Council Turkey Program conducts research, provides thought leadership, and offers a platform for strategic dialogue between the US, Turkey, and NATO allies to address the region’s toughest challenges and explore opportunities, including in the fields of energy, business & trade, technology, defense, and security.

Learn more

Explore the Power Vertical podcast

The Power Vertical

The Power Vertical is a blog and podcast for Russia wonks and Kremlin watchers by Brian Whitmore. It covers emerging and developing trends in Russian politics, shining a spotlight on the high-stakes power struggles, machinations, and clashing interests that shape Kremlin policy today.

Explore the Debrief series

#AtlanticDebrief

#AtlanticDebrief hosts interviews with leading experts, policymakers, and newsmakers from both sides of the Atlantic to unpack the challenges and opportunities of the transatlantic relationship.

Explore the Series


#BalkansDebrief

The Atlantic Council Europe Center’s #BalkansDebrief series features timely conversations on key issues impacting the Western Balkans. Nonresident senior fellow Ilva Tare hosts newsmakers, experts, and officials for discussions on rule of law, energy security, cultural heritage, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and more.

Explore the Series

Content

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

NATOSource

Jan 29, 2014

NATO’s Rasmussen Criticizes Russian Pressure on Ukraine

By Nicholas Vinocur, Reuters

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen criticized Russia on Wednesday for pressuring Kiev not to sign a free trade pact with the European Union, a move that triggered mass protests.

NATO NATO Partnerships
British soldiers blinded by tear gas, April 10, 1918

NATOSource

Jan 29, 2014

1914 – The Failure of and the Need for Diplomacy

By Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Guardian

The history of the outbreak of war 100 years ago and of the collapse of the fragile balance of power in Europe in the summer of 1914 is a disturbing tale of the failure of the governing elites and the military, but also of diplomacy.

Europe & Eurasia European Union
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan

NATOSource

Jan 29, 2014

Turkey’s Wrong Turn

By Editorial Board, New York Times

[Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan should be insisting that the probe be fair and transparent, not trying to derail it.

NATO Security & Defense
Flickr/thierry ehrmann

New Atlanticist

Jan 29, 2014

Ukraine: Is Yanukovych Finished?

By Rajan Menon

For a while it looked as if Ukraine’s embattled president, Viktor Yanukovych, had survived the political tidal wave that followed his decision to mothball the Association Agreement he’d hammered out with the European Union and instead to accept a lifeline from Russia (a $15 billion loan plus a one-third reduction in the price of natural […]

Ukraine
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

France’s Counterterrorism Operations in Africa Deserve US Support

By Editorial Board, Washington Post

[M]ore than 1,000 French soldiers are still fighting Islamic militants in Mali. Another French intervention force has been dispatched to restore order in the Central African Republic.

France Sahel
FIM-92A Stinger missile fired on July 28, 2009

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

Finland Orders $123 Million Worth of Stinger Missiles

By Helsinki Times

Finland is set to acquire hundreds of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles from the United States, Carl Haglund (SFP), the Minister of Defence, announced to US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel as the two met in Washington

Northern Europe United States and Canada
Vice President Joe Biden at the 2013 Munich Security Conference

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

US Should Challenge European Allies with ‘Frank Talk’ about Defense

By Clemens Wergin, International New York Times

In recent decades, many European states have largely outsourced their security to the United States, which provided a defensive umbrella and protected global trade routes vital for European commerce and energy supplies.

Germany Iran
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in Afghanistan

NATOSource

Jan 28, 2014

Defense Minister: Germany Needs to Take More Responsibility Around the World

By René Pfister and Gordon Repinski, Spiegel

New Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen says that it is time for Berlin to take more responsibility. She also dreams of a European army.

Africa Europe & Eurasia
Finland's Defense Minister Carl Haglund

NATOSource

Jan 27, 2014

Finnish Defense Minister: EU will Never Become Europe’s Primary Defense Forum

By Jorge Benitez, Atlantic Council

During his trip to Washington to meet with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Finnish Defense Minister Carl Haglund sat down for an exclusive interview with Director of NATOSource Jorge Benitez.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

In the News

Jan 25, 2014

Karatnycky on Ukraine: Yanukovych Has Blinked

By Adrian Karatnycky

Transatlantic Relations Program Senior Fellow Adrian Karatnycky is quoted in the New York Times on the decision of Ukrainian opposition leaders to reject a power-sharing agreement put forth by President Yanukovych:

Ukraine
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Experts

Fellow

Lukas Andriukaitis

Nonresident Fellow

Digital Forensic Research Lab

Disinformation Eastern Europe

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Istvan-Lorant Antal

Senator, Senate of Romania

Millennium Leadership Program

Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Fellow

Piotr Arak

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Europe Center

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Gérard Araud

Distinguished Fellow

Europe Center

English Europe & Eurasia

Fellow

Ryan Arick

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Fellow

Lisa Aronsson

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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Events

Flagship Event Fri, December 11, 2026 • 8:30 am ET

2026 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics

The Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics is an annual flagship convening focused on issues at the nexus of economics, finance, foreign policy, and national security.
Digital Policy Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia European Union