A Glimpse Into NATO HQ

As the global order shifts away from economic interdependence and the scourge of war continues to plague Ukraine, all while old flames reignite in the Middle East, United States and European relations have entered a new era, one in which the once unthinkable has become all too tenable. The West must now grapple with a series of questions, of which it can no longer afford to procrastinate.

Will the EU develop their own army after years of European disarmament? How will European NATO member states accommodate to reach the new goal of allocating 5% of their individual GDPs towards defense spending? And finally, what does the public think of this new push for European rearmament, particularly in the context of Ukraine? 

During my Spring Break I was provided the opportunity to visit NATO Headquarters in Brussels. I was escorted by Lavinia Teodorescu, a Harvard graduate with a B.A in Government and M.A in Russian, Eastern European, and Central Asian studies, who currently works at NATO IMS Cooperative Security, and has been based in Brussels since October 2025. Prior to her current position she had been based at NATO’s North American Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia working at NATO ACT from February-August 2025. On my visit, I was given the privilege to tour the facilities and discuss collective security with staff.

I went into my trip with a feeling of frustration, and even a level of resentment, towards international organizations that is commonly shared by people around the world. It’s not an inexplicable feeling in today’s geopolitical atmosphere; given the escalating tensions in the Middle East, the fallout in Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, and the open demolition of international law with no accountability or consequence for states or world leaders. However, I do, for better or worse, possess a level of radical optimism that my hope in the world and in collective security could be somewhat restored after just a couple of hours and a few conversations. 

The staff I was given the opportunity to talk to appeared to share a level of the exhaustion and frustration previously described. For even long-time employees of one of the strongest pillars of the liberal world order, the anger with world leaders, the frustration with the current system, and the desire for change reflects the same discussions and feelings I have shared with many of those at AUR. These conversations reminded me of why my peers and I chose to study international relations in the first place. It reminded me that change can only come from collective frustration, and that our hope for a better world can might be made manifest through the work we pursue.

As for collective security, as well as European rearmament in the face of Ukraine, my conversation with Lavinia gave me more insight into what that future could look like. We tackle topics such as what peace in the region could look like, and how international collaboration can contribute to an end to the conflict. 

About the Author