The Transatlantic “Quad” and “Quint”: Steering the West Through Uncertain Times?

ABSTRACT Since the early days of the Cold War, the cohesion and effectiveness of the Western Alliance have been sustained through the work of a small group of great powers known as the Transatlantic “Quad”: France, Germany, the UK, and the United States. To this day, the four powers coordinate their policies and manage relations within the alliance through little‐known but well‐established diplomatic channels. In the post‐Cold War era, the elite group—now occasionally joined by Italy in the “Quint”—has also intensified its engagement of outside parties in crisis management, thus assuming the broader role of a regional security management institution. More publicly than before, the “Quad” and “Quint” have continued to play this crucial role in the ongoing conflict over Ukraine. Presently, the West's diminishing global position, mounting criticism from within the alliance, and internal divisions cast doubt on the format's continued viability as an instrument for policy coordination, alliance management, and engagement. Yet, as a highly adaptable informal forum it still holds the potential to play a crucial role in keeping the United States engaged in Europe, preserving the cohesion of the Western Alliance, and securing the Europeans a seat at great powers' table.