NATO's 70th

From US News

"After 70 Years, NATO Is Still an Important Alliance"

As NATO marks its 70th anniversary this week, we have a good opportunity to take stock of past accomplishments, and at the same time, to look toward the future prospects for this remarkable alliance.

Strong Civilian Leadership

First, it is worth noting on this 70th anniversary that the progress made by NATO is a product of its standing as both a political and military alliance.  On the civilian side, the diplomatic work of the NATO secretary general and the senior representatives from the member nations that comprise the North Atlantic Council is every bit as important as the military dimensions of the alliance.  The civilian leadership of NATO and their policy accomplishments have been a lynchpin of global diplomatic progress, before and after resolution of the Cold War. As examples, the solid, steady diplomatic efforts of the current secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, the remarkable record of his predecessor, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and the recent passing of the sixth secretary general, Lord Peter Carrington, are reminders of the exceptional, long-term civilian leadership and political impact of the Alliance.

Political and Military Impact

Second, constructive political and military impact beyond the borders of member states has been a hallmark of NATO since its inception in 1949, and a key factor in its success.  The alliance has continued to reach out and provide a basis for interaction with nations around the world in ways that have consistently advanced dialogue and reduced tensions, through exercises, diplomacy and constructive talks, particularly since the end of the Cold War. One only has to look at the NATO structure of Partnership for Peace, Istanbul Cooperation, and Mediterranean Dialogue countries, as well as other key global partners such as Australia and Japan, to fully understand the NATO's irreplaceable diplomatic and military impact in advancing security.  For those of us with military careers spanning much of NATO's history, the alliance has provided the basis for coalition tactics and procedures around the globe, and has been part and parcel of our contributions to peace and security for decades.

Growing and Evolving

Another noteworthy characteristic of NATO has been an ability to grow and evolve in response to developing challenges.  From the initial resolve displayed by former U.S. President Harry Truman in leading formation of the alliance with Canada and key European partners in 1949, NATO has demonstrated its flexibility in both overall strategy and political/military impact through seven decades of change. It has increased its membership from the 12 founding members to 29 nations (and a pending 30th, North Macedonia, currently in ratification), through a rigorous Membership Action Plan process for aspiring members. This expansion and transformation has been deliberate, reflecting a broad consensus of member states.  While concerns over NATO expansion by Russia and others is noted, it is difficult to justify disregarding public sentiment in aspiring democracies, reflecting their genuine and well-vetted choice to find common purpose with NATO member nations. 

Challenges Still Remain

An assessment of NATO at 70 years would not be complete without at least some mention of strains between the current administration in Washington and NATO. The recent departure of James Mattis as Secretary of Defense underscored tensions related to our work with other nations on security issues. In his letter of resignation, he found it necessary to highlight the importance of "providing effective leadership to …NATO's 29 democracies," and stated that "our strength as a nation is inextricably linked to the strength of our unique and comprehensive system of alliances and partnerships." At the same time that Mattis made such a persuasive argument for alliance support, it became clear that there remains a strong consensus across government for our role in NATO. An example of this was the 357-22 vote of the House of Representatives on Jan. 22 for the NATO Support Act, which among other measures, affirmed backing for NATO and its mutual defense clause, and prohibited use of federal funds to withdraw from the alliance.  At the same time that this bipartisan congressional vote confirmed U.S. political support, our military deployments related to NATO operations in Europe have continued at a high level. Operation Atlantic Resolve, and its funding through the Defense Department's European Defense Initiative, has resulted in continued, vigorous air, ground and naval deployments to Eastern Europe, in response to ongoing tensions. In conclusion, it is difficult to overstate the impact that NATO has had in advancing security and peace during the past 70 years. From its initial role in stabilizing Europe in the wake of World War II, to the peaceful resolution of the Cold War with the Soviet Union, to operations in the Balkans and Afghanistan, maritime commitments in the Mediterranean and off the Horn of Africa, and other diplomatic and military engagement, the alliance has had overwhelming positive influence and maintained its relevance. There has hardly been any other alliance of nations with such duration, scope and sheer impact in human history. The NATO pillars of collective defense, crisis management and cooperative security will be fundamental to reducing tensions and limiting armed conflict for as far into the future as we can see. While challenges will continue to abound, as they always have for the global community of nations, we should be hopeful and look forward to the next 70 years of the NATO alliance.

^ NATO is the reason I lived in West Germany and then Germany. It's also the reason for many good things since it was created 70 years ago. While the US has long dominated NATO it is time (since the Cold War is over) for every NATO member country to pick up the slack and do a lot more to ensure a peaceful world. The countries in blue above are NATO member states. ^

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2019-04-03/commentary-70-years-of-nato?yptr=yahoo