To keep Russia out and America in, NATO must spend more
European members need a hard date to boost their defence budgets
The first head of NATO, Hastings “Pug” Ismay, reputedly said the alliance’s purpose was to “keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in and the Germans down”. Today, no one wants to keep the Germans down. But as NATO’s 32 members gather in The Hague on June 24th, most agree that the still-essential task of keeping the Russians out requires keeping the Americans in. And that is no longer straightforward.
Explore more
This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “A new “Pug” test to beat Putin”
From the June 21st 2025 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the edition
America cannot dodge the consequences of rising tariffs for ever
Their economic impact has been delayed but not averted
How A-listers are shaking up the consumer-goods business
Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and Ryan Reynolds are among a new cohort of celebrity entrepreneurs
William Ruto is taking Kenya to a dangerous place
The president’s authoritarian instincts are propelling a spiral of violence
China is building an entire empire on data
It will change the online economy and the evolution of artificial intelligence
Trumponomics 2.0 will erode the foundations of America’s prosperity
The Big Beautiful Bill is symptomatic of a wider malaise
Sir Keir Starmer is rapidly losing his authority
As well as his hope of achieving much in office