NATO and European Security

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 reinvigorated NATO. The alliance has expanded with the addition of Finland and Sweden, the allies are spending more on defense, and NATO has enhanced its efforts to strengthen deterrence, including by adopting new regional defense plans for countering the Russian threat. At the same time, challenges remain. The United States and its allies face the long-term challenge of ensuring that Ukraine has the support and the security guarantees necessary to successfully counter Russia’s aggression. Allies remain concerned about Washington’s commitment to the alliance and Ukraine especially in the event of a potential leadership change in the 2024 election. The ability of the allies to follow through on pledges to make the investments and commitments needed to fulfill NATO plans also remains uncertain. Intra-alliance differences also exist over the extent to which NATO should focus on addressing the increasingly serious security challenges China poses, and the consequences for European defense and deterrence should a conflict erupt in the Indo-Pacific.

The Transatlantic Security Program addresses these critical questions head-on. We convene high-level roundtables and forums and produce in-depth, policy-relevant analysis designed to contribute to the mutual security of the United States and our European partners and allies. TSP’s weekly podcast, Brussels Sprouts, is a leading voice shaping narratives on transatlantic security, NATO, Russia, and all things Europe.