This week, 32 allied nations will gather in Washington, DC for the annual NATO Summit, marking the alliance’s 75th anniversary. As we prepare for this occasion, we invite you to explore analyses that examine NATO’s challenges and evolution.
CSBA Publications
Understanding NATO’s Concept for Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area
Katherine Kjellström Elgin, Sean Monaghan, Sara Bjerg Moller
May 20, 2024 | CSBA Brief
NATO’s Concept for Deterrence and Defense of the Euro-Atlantic Area (the DDA, or the “Deter and Defend” strategy) is the centerpiece of NATO’s dramatic “back to the future” transformation. It has helped the alliance be more forward-leaning in its defense and deterrence missions and, since 2022, it has been the linchpin in NATO’s efforts to deter Vladimir Putin from expanding his war of aggression beyond Ukraine. However, more work remains for NATO to be able to implement the strategy and strengthen its defense and deterrence.
An Ongoing and Necessary Renaissance: NATO’s Nuclear Posture
Eric Edelman and Franklin C. Miller
January 25, 2024 | CSBA Brief
Given Russia’s recent behavior and the prospect that it could become even more reliant on its nuclear forces due to conventional military losses in Ukraine, now is the time to explore potential changes to NATO’s nuclear posture. This includes broadening the participation in nuclear sharing rather than forward-stationing nuclear weapons on the territory of newer member states.
Deterrence and Defense in the Baltic Region
Jan van Tol, Christopher Bassler, Katherine Kjellström Elgin, Tyler Hacker
June 2, 2022 | CSBA Study
The Russian invasion of Ukraine revealed significant new realities regarding the future defense of Europe, with emphasis on the Baltic region. Based on initial, provisional observations, the authors examine pre-war assumptions about Russian military effectiveness that were proven to be unfounded; assess the key roles that Ukraine’s employment of precision-guided weapons and drones played in defeating Russia’s opening attacks; and recommend actions that the Baltic states, NATO, and the United States should undertake as part of a NATO “reset.”
Strengthening the Defense of NATO’s Eastern Frontier
Billy Fabian, Mark Gunzinger, Jan van Tol, Jacob Cohn, Gillian Evans
March 13, 2019 | CSBA Study
The emergence of Russia as a disruptive force in Europe poses a threat to the security of the NATO alliance and its member states. Plausible paths to conflict exist that NATO cannot afford to ignore. The authors offer recommendations for enhancing deterrence and, if necessary, defeating Russian aggression against NATO in Poland and the Baltic region.
Other Features
From CSBA Counselor Eric Edelman, and Fellows Katherine Kjellström Elgin and Tyler Hacker
Sweden, Finland, and the Meaning of Alliance Membership
Katherine Kjellström Elgin and Alexander Lanoszka
June 7, 2024 | Podcast: Horns of a Dilemma
What do Sweden and Finland gain from NATO membership? How does joining the alliance redefine these countries’ identities and strategic cultures?
NATO’s Future
Eric Edelman and Eliot A. Cohen
March 21, 2024 | Podcast: Shield of the Republic
Now that NATO is made up of 32 rather than 12 members, critical questions arise about its decision-making processes. Should NATO adjust its consensus-based approach to enhance agility when responding to security challenges?
NATO’s Decision Process Has an Achilles’ Heel
Eric Edelman, David Manning, Franklin C. Miller
March 12, 2024 | Article: New Atlanticist
Given the threatening international backdrop and the need to balance the cohesion of a larger alliance with the ability to make rapid and resolute decisions, has the time come to revise the consensus model in critical Article 5 situations?
NATO Has a Munitions Problem, and Europe Needs to Step Up
Katherine Kjellström Elgin and Tyler Hacker
February 1, 2024 | Article: DefenseNews
The European defense industry has at least three competing needs: supplying weapons to Ukraine, refilling stockpiles, and building up larger inventories of weapons for the future. It is time for European NATO members to acknowledge the true scale of their weapon requirements and adopt a strategic approach to meeting them in the near and long term.
U.S. Alliance Management in the Shadow of Sino-American Competition
Benedetta Berti, Katherine Kjellström Elgin, Gorana Grgić, Martayn Vandewall
November 21, 2023 | Article: Defence Studies
To effectively tackle challenges in two critical theaters simultaneously while also addressing global threats, the United States will need to capitalize on its chief geostrategic advantage over its competitors and adversaries—its global network of alliances and strategic partnerships.
We Need a Renaissance in Deterrence Policy
Eric Edelman and Franklin C. Miller
October 19, 2023 | Podcast: Shield of the Republic
In light of heightened provocations, this podcast explores proactive measures to fortify NATO’s deterrent capabilities against Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of strategic readiness and cohesion.
Sweden, Finland, and the Meaning of Alliance Membership
Katherine Kjellström Elgin and Alexander Lanoszka
Spring 2023 | Article: Texas National Security Review
The authors examine the implications of Sweden and Finland’s NATO membership. They explore how joining the alliance redefines these countries’ identities and strategic cultures, offering new insights into the broader geopolitical landscape of Northern Europe.
NATO 2030: Towards a New Strategic Concept and Beyond
Jason Blessing, Katherine Kjellström Elgin, Nele Marrianne Ewers-Peters
2021 | Book: Foreign Policy Institute/Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs
Written by a diverse, multigenerational group of policymakers and academics from across Europe and the United States, this book provides new insights about NATO’s changing threat landscape, its shifting internal dynamics, and the evolution of warfare.
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