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

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

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

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

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

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

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

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

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

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

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

MEADS is a short-range missile defense system

NATOSource

Oct 25, 2013

US, Germany, Italy Sign Agreement on MEADS Development

By Global Security Newswire

The United States, Germany and Italy this week agreed to maintain trilateral collaboration on a developmental battlefield short-range missile defense system

Germany Italy
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying

NATOSource

Oct 25, 2013

China: Don’t Politicize Turkey Missile Deal

By Christopher Bodeen, AP

China said Friday that a controversial proposal to sell a Chinese missile defense system to U.S. ally and NATO member Turkey should not be politicized.

China Missile Defense
SACEUR General Phil Breedlove at LANDCOM, July 9, 2013

NATOSource

Oct 25, 2013

Much Smaller, Much Leaner: NATO 3.0

By Ahu Özyurt, CNN Türk

NATO’s Land Command Headquarters in İzmir passed a critical milestone over the weekend.

NATO Security & Defense

New Atlanticist

Oct 25, 2013

Will Turkey Implement Smart Defense?

By Patrick O'Reilly

Prime Minister Erdrogan’s recent announcement that Turkey is in discussions with China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to acquire the FD-2000 (export version of the HQ-9) as Turkey’s first long-range anti-missile system is a significant step backward from the “Smart Defense” initiative endorsed by all leaders at the 2012 NATO Summit.

Missile Defense NATO
US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone

NATOSource

Oct 24, 2013

Ambassador: US ‘Very Concerned’ About Turkey-China Missile Deal

By Today's Zaman and Hurriyet Daily News

From Today’s Zaman: The United States is very concerned about a missile deal between Turkey and China, US Ambassador to Turkey Francis Ricciardone has said.

China NATO
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, October 23, 2013

NATOSource

Oct 24, 2013

US to Allies: NATO May be Asked to Assist in Destroying Chemical Weapons in Syria

By Chuck Hagel, Department of Defense

Today we held the first defense ministerial meeting in several years of the NATO-Russia Council.

NATO Russia
US has only two Coast Guard icebreakers, "neither in first-class shape"

NATOSource

Oct 23, 2013

High North or High Tension?

By James Stavridis, Foreign Policy

The recent rise in tension in Russia’s relationship with the other Arctic front-line states — all of which happen to be in NATO — doesn’t help.

China International Organizations
Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, March 26, 2012

NATOSource

Oct 23, 2013

Turkish PM Rebukes NATO over China Missile Deal Criticism

By Hurriyet Daily News and Anadolu Agency

From Hürriyet Daily News:  Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan rebuffed intensified international criticism over Turkey’s choice to agree a missile defense deal with China, a day after NATO declared that it wanted a say in the decision-making process.

China Missile Defense
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, April 30, 2008

NATOSource

Oct 22, 2013

Time for Germany to Step Up to Its Responsibilities

By Constanze Stelzenmüller, Financial Times

The country’s very existence as an export nation relies on globalisation. So it has an overwhelming interest in the health of the international order that enables global trade and communication networks to function.

European Union Germany
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and German Minister of Defense Thomas de Maizière, March 11, 2011

NATOSource

Oct 22, 2013

German Plan to Reform NATO Faces Broad Opposition

By Matthias Gebauer, Gregor Peter Schmitz and Christoph Schult, Spiegel

German Defense Minister Thomas de Maizière wants to strengthen cooperation among NATO members and is calling for reform of the military alliance. But other countries are skeptical.

France Germany
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Experts

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Mika Abdullaeva

Senior Advisor, Department of State

Central Asia Resilience & Society

European Leadership Accelerator Participant

Martin-Sebastian Abel

Co-Founder & Managing Director, TransitionPlan

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Europe Economy & Business

Fellow

Mahmoud Abouelnaga

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoTech Center

Africa Americas

Millennium fellow

Ramzi Abunemreh

Architectural Manager, Consolidated Contractors Company

Millennium Leadership Program

Central Asia Economy & Business

Fellow

Elliot Ackerman

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Didier Acouetey

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Africa Center

Africa Economy & Business
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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