Shifting Transatlantic Relationships: Iran, Ukraine and the Uncertain Future of NATO

Please note that this event will be taking place at the University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris, France and will not be available for virtual attendance. 

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With news of the United States seeking to “reexamine” its NATO membership, the alliance is at a turning point. In the past several months, the US has pulled back on foreign support, more selectively engaged in economic activity, turned its focus more directly toward its own hemisphere, and engaged in combat operations in Iran. Meanwhile, European nations have focused on securing their own interests and are increasingly willing to do so without US support – with the EU taking on debt to fund defense spending for its members and mobilizing military capabilities to support Ukraine. These actions, as well as European reluctance to get involved in Iran, have culminated in a sharp divide between the United States and its European partners. Tensions over the future of NATO are sharper than ever before.

How might this affect European security, the NATO military alliance, and the health of historic transatlantic relations? What will NATO look like in 10 years? Can it survive these tensions? Should it? 

Featuring Colonel Patrick Bryant, Deputy Director of the Europe, North America, Multilateral Affairs Division at the Direction général des relations internationales et de la stratégie, Heather Hurlburt, Associate Fellow with Chatham House and former Chief of Staff to US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, Andrew Gray, European Affairs Editor at Reuters and Professor Mark Webber, Professor of International Politics at the University of Birmingham and Non-resident Senior Fellow at the NATO Defence College in Rome. Moderated by Institute of Politics director John F. Kirby.

This event is free and open to the public. Brief reception to follow the panel discussion.

Made possible by a gift from Suzy and Sadek Wahba.

The Institute of Politics is a nonpartisan organization committed to fostering a culture of civil dialogue and free expression on the University of Chicago campus and beyond. Through our public events, civic engagement opportunities and internship program, we cultivate in our students a passion for public service and active engagement in our democracy.

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

7:00 p.m. CET

The University of Chicago John W. Boyer Center in Paris