The Future of NATO

Ein NATO-Flugzeug mit einem Radar auf dem Rumpf.

of picture alliance / AA | Dursun Aydemir "Who or what will emerge next on NATO’s radar screens?"

The transatlantic Alliance has been one of the core security pillars of German and European defense policy for decades. Since the end of the Cold War it underwent a series of internal transformations and reorientations triggered by developments in the international security environment and pressure form its member states.

Crisis Management in the Balkans and eastwards enlargement in the 1990s, anti-terrorism deployments in the 2000s and a reorientation towards Alliance defense and deterrence since 2014. It’s posture and development will remain a crucial factor in German and European defense policy for the forseeable future. Accordingly FES will closely follow the policy discourse on current and future NATO policy and facilitate social democratic and progressive positions.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and now with the change of US administration in early 2025, the future of NATO has had to be fundamentally rethought. The debates on NATO have changed worldwide. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is closely following the political discourse. We are currently working on an updated study of the various debates on NATO and will publish it here before the NATO Summit on 24 June 2025.

Contact

Peer Teschendorf

+49 30 26935-7729

Peer.Teschendorf(at)fes.de

Study 2025

Launch June 2025

Study 2021

Three visions for NATO

Mapping national debates on the future of the atlantic alliance
Berlin, 2021

more information

Download (PDF) (1,5 MB PDF-File)

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Those periods when the Alliance reviews its strategic orientation are of particular importance. Right now, in June 2021 NATO is embarking on a process to revise its strategic concept, starting with its first post-Trump summit scheduled to take place in Brussles on June 14th. To engage in the upcoming policy debates in Germany, Europe and the Alliance writ large, it is important to first obtain an overview and understanding of where discussions about the future of the Alliance in different member states (and non-member states) come from and where experts see the Alliance heading towards.

Our new study “Three Visions for NATO - Mapping National Debates on the Future of the Alliance” shall provide experts but also policy makers and interested citizens with the orientation and expertise necessary to effectively engage in the democratic processes shaping the future of the Alliance. The complete study can be accessed as pdf-file (see above), EPUB-file or Kindle Ebook (forthcoming).