Crises abound as NATO country leaders convene in Warsaw

Yet, in the midst of an outstanding series of challenges, the transatlantic partnership has also shown its unique resistance and provided reasons for optimism, says Karen Donfried, the president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

"I do think it is a critical moment for all the 28 members of NATO to be coming together and showing transatlantic solidarity probably on 2 key fronts. First, I would highlight NATO's strategy to the East - and this is in response to Russia's aggression in Ukraine. And then, a second main focus would be NATO's strategy to the South where we see a great deal of turmoil in the Middle East and North Africa" she told Polish Radio's Magdalena Skajewska on the eve of the most important summit of the Alliance since the end of the Cold War.