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Featured Reading

Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

New Atlanticist Apr 21, 2025

Four contests for democracy in Europe challenge the narrative of advancing authoritarianism

By Daniel Fried

In Georgia, Hungary, Serbia, and Turkey, pro-democracy demonstrators are taking to the streets in massive numbers. But how long will the upsurge last?
Democratic Transitions Europe & Eurasia
Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

New Atlanticist Mar 17, 2025

Enough carrots for Putin. For better negotiations, serve ‘maximum pressure’ instead.

By Benjamin L. Schmitt, Richard L. Morningstar, and Daniel Fried

Since Russia appears content for negotiations to move slowly, the Trump administration should turn up the pressure with new sanctions.
Conflict Economic Sanctions
Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

Issue Brief Mar 5, 2025

The EU must become a strategic player in defense—alongside NATO

By Justina Budginaite-Froehly

The European Union and NATO need renewed alignment on defense to meet the new geopolitical moment. Refocused cooperation would provide a critically needed burden sharing to eliminate vulnerabilities and prepare Europe to withstand new realities.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia

featured events

Online Event Thu, March 20, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

The future of EU defense

Following the release of the European Union’s whitepaper on the future of European defense, an expert panel unpacks what role the EU should play in transatlantic security.
Europe & Eurasia European Union NATO Security & Defense
Online Event Tue, February 18, 2025 • 11:30 am ET

How long can Russia sustain its aggression in Ukraine?

The Eurasia Center discusses how the confluence of Russia’s war of attrition, economic decline, and energy damage impact the Russian Federation and its global standing.
Conflict Economic Sanctions Europe & Eurasia International Markets

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 reluctant consensus: War and Russia’s public opinion

by Maria Snegovaya

A new Atlantic Council report explores Russian society’s consolidation around the Kremlin and the Russian public’s perception of Putin’s war on Ukraine.

In-depth Research & reports

Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

Report Mar 3, 2025

The art of the transatlantic deal

By Frances Burwell

The transatlantic relationship is shifting with US president Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Nevertheless, discreet deals across the US-EU trade, energy, and defense sectors are possible.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia
Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

Report Jun 7, 2024

Reconstructing Ukraine at war: The journey to prosperity starts now

By John E. Herbst, Olga Khakova, Charles Lichfield

Rebuilding the Ukrainian economy after Russia’s full-scale invasion will be a monumental task. Reconstruction can’t wait for peace and must be a well-coordinated, inclusive process.
Economy & Business Energy & Environment

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

The Atlantic Council in Turkey aims to promote and strengthen transatlantic engagement with the region by providing a high-level forum and pursuing programming to address the most important issues on energy, economics, security, and defense.

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

New Atlanticist

Jul 9, 2024

Dispatch from Madrid: For Spain’s contributions to NATO, look beyond its defense spending

By Andrew Bernard

While Spain still falls short of its defense spending goals, Madrid nevertheless leads NATO missions, supports Ukraine, and helps guard Europe’s southern flank.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Jul 9, 2024

Nikoladze and Lejava cited by Defense One on Georgia foreign agent law

Read the full article here.

Politics & Diplomacy Rule of Law

In the News

Jul 9, 2024

Dahl in Dagens Industri on NATO Summit

By Ann-Sofie Dahl

On July 9, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Ann-Sofie Dahl was quoted in Dagens Industri discussing President Joe Biden’s performance in the NATO Summit.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

Atlantic Debrief

Jul 8, 2024

#AtlanticDebrief – What are the biggest takeaways from the French election? | A Debrief from Amb. Gérard Araud

Jörn Fleck sits down with Amb. Gérard Araud to unpack the implications of the French election results and the emerging power struggles in French politics.

Elections Europe & Eurasia

Issue Brief

Jul 8, 2024

Turkey’s emerging and disruptive technologies capacity and NATO: Defense policy, prospects, and limitations

By Can Kasapoğlu and Sine Özkaraşahin

An issue brief exploring Turkey's defense technological ecosystem and leveraging its capabilities for the benefit of NATO.

Defense Industry Defense Policy

In the News

Jul 8, 2024

Webster in the China-Russia Report: China may produce drones for Russia
Arms Control Central Asia

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2024

From blueprints to battlefields: How to ensure NATO’s future readiness

By Luka Ignac

NATO’s success hinges on allies’ ability to verify readiness, overcome capability gaps, revitalize the transatlantic defense industrial base, and integrate national defense plans with NATO defense plans.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 8, 2024

Deni in Defense News on the NATO Summit deliverables

By John R. Deni

On July 8, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow John Deni was featured in Defense News discussing NATO Summit deliverables.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 8, 2024

Townsend quoted in Aftenposten on the Washington Summit

By James J. Townsend Jr.

On July 8, Transatlantic Security Initiative senior advisor Jim Townsend was quoted in Aftenposten on the NATO Summit currently taking place in Washington.

Europe & Eurasia NATO

In the News

Jul 8, 2024

Benitez in Breaking Defense on Russia’s readiness to challenge NATO

By Jorge Benitez

On July 8, Transatlantic Security Initiative nonresident senior fellow Jorge Benitez was quoted in Breaking Defense discussing NATO’s preparedness to deter Russian aggression.

Europe & Eurasia NATO
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Experts

Staff

Ryan Arick

Associate Director

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

Expert

Defne Arslan

Senior Director, Atlantic Council In Turkey

Atlantic Council in Turkey

Economy & Business Energy & Environment

Staff

Rayhan Asat

Senior Legal & Policy Advisor, China Lead

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Central Asia China

Fellow

David Auerswald

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Defense Policy Europe & Eurasia

Executive Leadership Intensive participant

Ilker Baburoglu

CEO, MedTrade

Millennium Leadership Program

Africa Economy & Business
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Events

Public Event Wed, May 14, 2025 • 9:30 am ET

Navigating a new era of NATO
Europe & Eurasia NATO Security & Defense United States and Canada
Online Event Fri, May 16, 2025 • 10:00 am ET

Lucian Kim on “Putin’s Revenge” and Russia’s war on Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Politics & Diplomacy Ukraine
Public Event Mon, May 19, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

US-Latvia Resilience Conference
Europe & Eurasia Resilience & Society Security & Defense
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