Strategic Intelligence - NATO

"NATO" is part of the analyst's Strategic Intelligence series of reports on cybersecurity and its impacts across different industries. NATO is essential in the defense industry, as a the political and military Alliance includes many of the largest spenders on defense. To overcome an era of heightened geopolitical risk, companies, nations, and militaries are increasingly adopting a collaborative approach. This approach involves acquisitions, sharing information on threats with their NATO Allies, and reporting overall defense spending.

This report explores emergent trends within the NATO market, examining use cases and the implementation of emerging technologies such as drones, and what challenges must be considered in pursuing effective strategies for brand building in this market.

The return of President Donald Trump to the White House last year was fairly certain to prove difficult for the NATO Alliance, but few expected such a turbulent shake to transatlantic relations. NATO has enjoyed highs and suffered lows in its last year, and the outlook appears relatively positive but still uncertain. On one hand, at the June 2025 NATO Summit, Allies agreed to newly increased defense spending commitments, even if it largely ignored questions about the Alliance’s perspective on Russia’s war against Ukraine. On the other hand, Donald Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric expressing his desire to acquire Greenland, perhaps using military force, brought into question the utility of the Alliance in a fracturing world.

After the Second World War, NATO was founded on the idea that aggressive territorial expansion threatened global peace. The failure to deter or help resolve a conflict of territorial aggression on NATO’s border, as well as an internal threat involving the Alliance’s largest Ally, reflects negatively on the strength of European defense and the quality of American diplomacy.

Fortunately, there are signs of optimism for the Alliance. After all, President Trump spearheaded the effort to raise NATO’s required core defense spending level for member states to 3.5% of GDP (with an additional 1.5% required for defense-related spending). Allies have begun making serious progress toward this goal and are forecast to continue to do so. Furthermore, though Russia’s war against Ukraine grinds on, the Russian military has been seriously weakened as NATO Europe has begun scaling rearmament, growing its membership, and deterring further aggression.

Key Highlights

• Studies of emerging technological trends and their broader impact on the defense market.
• Analysis of the various NATO solutions, programs and projects currently under development

Report Scope

• The key defense challenges that forces and defense sector suppliers face are covered.
• The investment opportunities for armed forces, suppliers, and institutional investors, across the whole NATO value chain are covered.
• Highlights from the range different NATO Allies and their progress toward NATO spending goals

Reasons to Buy

• Determine potential investment companies based on trend analysis and market projections.
• Gaining an understanding of the market challenges and opportunities surrounding the NATO in defense theme.
• Understanding how spending on NATO and related segments will fit into the overall market and which spending areas are being prioritized.