Given Donald Trump’s unpredictability over what he may or may not do regarding the US presence in and support for NATO, there are a range of possible consequences arising from his quixotic actions for America’s longest-standing alliance. David Richards and Harlan Ullman unpack how Europe can compensate for any major US force reductions and what a revitalised NATO might look like.
Former UK Labour MP Madeleine Moon argues that Britain’s political instability is the product of profound social and geopolitical change. With Andy Burnham in Number 10, Britain must think simultaneously about defence, the economy, technological advantage, and democratic institutions while building on reforms to pursue a whole-of-society approach to national resilience.
Andy Burnham has signalled that he wants to focus his energies on domestic policy, and his Cabinet appointments suggest he is willing to delegate responsibility to his top team – though that does not come without risks, write Jack Pannell and Ed Arnold. The experience of recent Prime Ministers suggests foreign policy requires the direct attention and energy of the Prime Minister.
European security architecture is at a crossroads as NATO and the EU search for new roles amid growing uncertainty over the future of transatlantic security. With debate over a more European NATO and a European nuclear umbrella gathering pace, Tarja Cronberg argues that the Ankara summit will test whether allies can move beyond technical debates about defence spending and burden-sharing to articulate a collective vision for Europe’s future security order.
Ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara, calls for higher defence spending are dominating the agenda. But military investment alone cannot guarantee Europe’s security. Sabine Mengelberg argues that NATO’s long-term strength depends equally on political cohesion and shared values, foundations that sustain deterrence and the alliance’s ability to confront security challenges.
ELN network members assess whether the Ankara summit marks a turning point for Europe’s role within NATO or a transition shaped by the US. They discuss defence spending, strategic autonomy, and the choices European governments must make to bolster the alliance in an uncertain security environment.