Over the past year, the economic and security environment shared by the transatlantic partners has rapidly changed. With the return of the Trump administration, the United States launched a trade war—that led to a trade deal—with the European Union (EU). Below are highlights from the forum, hosted by Atlantik-Brücke and the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center and Europe Center. Learn moreMatthew Whitaker’s message to NATO allies: ‘Start spending money’ on defense ‘and stop buying Russian energy’US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Atlantic Council’s 2025 Transatlantic Forum on GeoEconomics on September 30, 2025. It is in the best interest of the United States “to have an economically strong Europe,” said Puzder.