NATO Summit: What to Know

The Hague Summit and the Future of NATO

Liana Fix and Rebecca Lissner

European leaders should avoid clashing with Trump at the NATO Summit in The Hague. In the coming months and years, they should focus on increasing defense spending, further integrating Ukraine into the regional security architecture, and developing a European-led future for the alliance.

The World Needs a Stronger NATO

Mark Rutte

“As NATO’s members face an increasingly dangerous world, it is our task to make the alliance stronger, fair, and more lethal so that it continues to keep adversaries at bay,” writes Rutte, secretary-general of NATO, in Foreign Affairs.

How to Make NATO More European

Jeremy Shapiro

“A changing strategic landscape and the direction of U.S. domestic politics mean that the United States will not fill [the leadership] role much longer. Europe now needs to lead the alliance, and to do that, a European needs to take the position of supreme allied commander,” writes Shapiro, research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, in Foreign Affairs.

How to End the Russia-Ukraine War

Thomas Graham

Ending the Russia-Ukraine war demands a shift in strategy from the Trump administration—one that compels Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate by coupling sustained pressure with pragmatic dialogue. A carefully crafted framework agreement is the key to breaking the deadlock and advancing a durable peace.

NATO ‘Should Be Honest’ With Ukraine on Membership

Charles A. Kupchan

At a recent CFR event on the upcoming NATO summit, Kupchan predicts that leaders will avoid firm commitments on Ukraine’s membership. He calls for greater honesty with Ukraine about its future. You can view the full event video featuring Kupchan, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Douglas E. Lute, Peter Rough, Julianne C. Smith, and Liana Fix.

Close NATO’s Door to Ukraine

Charles A. Kupchan

In Foreign Affairs, Kupchan explores how ending Ukraine’s path to NATO membership will make a ceasefire negotiation with Russia easier.

The Limits of Putin’s Ambitions

Thomas Graham

Putin’s war in Ukraine is not just about territory—it’s a calculated move to reclaim Russia’s global influence and potentially redraw Europe’s borders. To safeguard European security, the West needs to revive its proven strategy: build a strong deterrent while pursuing dialogue to ensure long-term stability.