Western Europe

FEATURED COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

How Germany’s incoming government will work with Turkey

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

A man in a hurry: Keir Starmer’s early approach is making waves at home and abroad

By Ed Owen

The new UK prime minister’s much-anticipated speech at the Labour Party’s recent gathering in Liverpool is a window into where the country may be headed.

Economy & Business Elections

New Atlanticist Oct 2, 2024

Three state elections have backed Germany into a corner

By Jurek Wille and Friedrich Conradi

The recent successes of populist parties in Germany’s state elections could signal an imminent shift in Berlin’s policies on climate, immigration, and aid for Ukraine.

Elections Germany

New Atlanticist Sep 26, 2024

France’s new government aims to calm the political storm. What will it mean for foreign policy?

By Léonie Allard, Jean-Loup Samaan

Prime Minister Michel Barnier is likely to follow the path of President Emmanuel Macron, but the big question is whether the delicate political context in Paris will allow ministers to focus on crises in Ukraine and Lebanon.

Europe & Eurasia France

EVENTS

Online Event Tue, February 25, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

Debriefing Germany’s federal elections

Elections European Union Germany Politics & Diplomacy

Online Event Mon, February 3, 2025 • 9:00 am ET

What’s at stake in the US-Germany relationship in 2025

Economy & Business Elections Europe & Eurasia Germany

Public Event Wed, January 15, 2025 • 2:00 pm ET

US Assistant Secretary Geoffrey Pyatt on Russian energy influence in Europe

Central Europe Eastern Europe Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance

Program

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

EXPLORE THE PROGRAM

Content

TURKEYSource

Mar 25, 2025

How Germany’s incoming government will work with Turkey

By Hürcan Aslı Aksoy

A stronger German focus on national interests, security, and leading the EU may reshape Germany-Turkey relations to be more transactional in the years ahead.

Defense Policy Elections

UkraineAlert

Mar 18, 2025

Britain takes the lead as Europe seeks to boost support for Ukraine

By Alina Hrytsenko

With the future of US support for Ukraine in doubt, Britain is leading European efforts to bolster the Ukrainian war effort and deny Putin an historic victory that would place the whole of Europe in peril, writes Alina Hrytsenko.

Conflict Defense Industry

Atlantic Debrief

Mar 10, 2025

#AtlanticDebrief – What was at stake in the German federal election? | A debrief with Jörn Fleck

Jorn Fleck, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council's Europe Center speaks with Rachel Rizzo about the German federal election.

Elections Europe & Eurasia

Balkans Debrief

Mar 7, 2025

Will Merz step up Germany’s role in the Balkans? | A Debrief with Gerald Knaus

Ilva Tare, Europe Center Resident Senior Fellow, speaks with Gerald Knaus about the German elections on February 23 and the next government's approach to the Western Balkans.

Elections European Union

New Atlanticist

Mar 6, 2025

How European leaders are responding to Trump’s approach to Ukraine and Europe

By Atlantic Council experts

From London and Berlin to Paris and Brussels, European leaders have taken several notable steps this week on security. This follows the blow-up between the Ukrainian and US presidents on February 28.

Europe & Eurasia European Union

In the News

Mar 5, 2025

Luetkefend co-authors essay with Army War College focused on Germany’s foreign policy shift since 2022

On February 27, Theresa Luetkefend, an Assistant Director in the Forward Defense program, co-authored an essay with Jeff Rathke, the President of the American-German Institute, through the US Army War College’s Strategic Studies Institute. Luetkefend’s essay, titled “The International Dimension: NATO, the EU, and Multinational Cooperation,” was featured in a broader report called Assessing the […]

English Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Mar 5, 2025

How Europe wants to rearm itself

By Piotr Arak

Ahead of an important European Union (EU) meeting on March 6, plans are in development at both the EU and member state levels to boost defense spending.

Conflict Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Mar 4, 2025

Europe has the resources to defend itself and back Ukraine against Russia

By Agnia Grigas

By leveraging its economic strength, demographic advantage, and military potential, Europe can confidently counter Putin’s imperial ambitions and provide Ukraine with the support it needs to resist Russia’s invasion, writes Agnia Grigas.

Conflict Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Mar 4, 2025

Making AUKUS work: The case for an Indo-Pacific defense innovation consortium

By Elliot Silverberg, Jacob Sharpe, and Rob Murray

The AUKUS partnership, focused on defense innovation in the Indo-Pacific, faces challenges in technology-sharing due to regulations like ITAR and EAR. The proposed Indo-Pacific Strategic Partnership for Accelerated Research and Knowledge in Defense (SPARK) aims to overcome these barriers, fostering faster co-development and co-production of advanced defense technologies

Australia Defense Industry

In the News

Mar 3, 2025

Murray on Bloomberg News on the Defence, Security, and Resilience Bank

By Atlantic Council

On March 3rd, Rob Murray, non-resident senior fellow at Forward Defense, was interviewed on Bloomberg new to discuss DSR.

Defense Industry International Financial Institutions

Experts

Staff

Torrey Taussig

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

Eastern Europe Europe & Eurasia