Today, Martha, Les, and Morgan discuss NATO’s unprecedented decision to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP—a seismic shift in transatlantic security policy. Driven by escalating threats from Russia, war in Ukraine, and mounting pressure from President Trump, the alliance’s new posture marks a clear break from decades of post–Cold War complacency. With Trump demanding more from European allies while withholding a full guarantee of U.S. protection, the future of collective defense—and Europe's role–is being fundamentally rewritten.

Is this a turning point for NATO or the beginning of its fragmentation? What does this spending surge really buy in terms of deterrence, and is it enough to match rising global threats? And can Europe truly step up—or is burden-sharing still more theory than reality?

Check out the answers to these questions and more in this episode of Fault Lines.

Check out the sources that helped shape our Fellows’ discussions: 

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_236418.htm 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gd98qry6jo 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/politics/nato-summit-trump-solitary-approach 

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-heads-nato-summit-europe-agrees-heed-his-defense-spending-demands 

Follow our experts on Twitter: 

@marthamillerdc

@lestermunson 

@morganlroach

Like what we're doing here? 

Be sure to rate, review, and subscribe. 

And don't forget to follow @faultlines_pod and @masonnatsec on Twitter!

We are also on YouTube, and watch today's episode here: https://youtu.be/DGDfMrDkUtY 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.