Does NATO Have A Future?

Running head: DOES NATO HAVE A FUTURE?
Does NATO Have A Future?
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Author Note

1DOES NATO HAVE A FUTURE?
Response to question 2: Does NATO have a future?
NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a global alliance of nations, was created in
1949 (Tsygankov 2018). This includes North American Countries and European countries,
comprising 29 member nations in total. The NATO was formed to act as a collective defence
mechanism for any external attack and threat to one its members (Tsygankov 2018). It is a
military alliance where France, UK and U.S are military powers. Montenegro is the last country
that became a member of the NATO alliance in 2017 (Nato.int, 2019). Its core focus is to
contribute to the protection of the North Atlantic area. What motivate the organization are
security threats and their possible solution. All these countries adopt certain political, military
objectives and the decision is taken by the collective effort of the member states.
To understand the issues of balance of power and collective defence, the theories of
international relations are to be considered here. The theory of Realism as propounded by Hans
J. Morgenthau and E.H Carr, explains the security issues of the states; the theory explains that
states are necessarily power hungry (Morgenthau 1973). Their interest in the international system
in defined in terms of power and acquisition of power. Hence, in this autonomous sphere of
international systems they struggle without the protection of one singe authority at the head. It is
the interest of every nation to maximize its power within this international sphere. Hence, states
are always into conflicting relationship with each other (Morgenthau 1973). This is where the
issue of collective defence and collective security becomes important (Baldwin 1997). States
tend to balance or counter the emerging power. The theory of collective security discusses about
the issue to installing peace in the international system (Baldwin 1997).

2DOES NATO HAVE A FUTURE?
Collective security is a difficult term to define as there are no clear definitions provided.
However, when multilateral efforts are being and an association is formed, it is an effort where
the security issue of one country becomes the security issue for all to protect them from further
aggression (Brenner 2016). It is defined as an agreement among states with certain rules and
procedure to maintain stability and peace whenever situations of threat arise and act together to
stop future damage and aggression. NATO is an example of this collective security measure.
However, threat perception changes overtime (Kissinger 2017). The NATO was created when
the threat perception at the international system was different. The scenario is changed now and
the situation is different now at the international system. The direct threat of any military attack
has reduced to some extent even though it is still present. The organization’s primary focus at
this changed situation should be to counter terrorism, cyber attack and disrupted supplies of
energy (Kissinger 2017). NATO is indeed facing new challenges in all spheres, social, economic,
political and even in security issues (Papascoma et al 2016). In 2011, the secretary of defence of
the U.S declared that the future of NATO is not vanished, however it is certainly dim. The
changed circumstances have reduced the importance of NATO to a great extent (Cimbala et al
2016). For example, the erstwhile threat from Russia has reduced than before. Russia does not
threat any of America’s intentions and interest. On the contrary, it helps fighting war against
terrorism (Forsberg et al 2015). The territorial issues that Russia has with the other European
nations are not military in the real sense of the term. They include political disputes and issues
which requires diplomacy and better foreign policy for the country rather than a military bloc
that exerts power. NATO helped to keep peace and stability during the Cold war period.
However, it is not suited to have a military power bloc to counter this new situation. By doing
this, it creates situation of tension and increase instability in the region. The rift between the two

3DOES NATO HAVE A FUTURE?
power blocs and the issue of Ukraine crisis had effected situation between them (Cimbala et al
2016).
Moreover, the policies of the West have not worked successful with Russia. Rather a less
norm driven approach and less complexity of protocol is required in such situation. Hence, the
future of NATO in this world scenario is not that helpful or desired.
Secondly, the world leaders must realize that the cold war regimes are over and situations
have drastically changed. NATO was created with the ambition of creation of peace and stability
for the member countries. However the challenge has completely changed its nature and it is a
different situation now. Hence, the question arises as to Why NATO fails to have strong
potential future. NATO has successfully maintained peace in Europe and U.S; however the scope
of the organization is extremely narrow because irrespective if few nations, the organization fails
to have a broader protection of security and stability (Wolff 2015). It must expand their vision of
protection of security issues of the smaller countries outside Europe .It has to consider a number
of threats and affirm more positively that collective defence will act for the countries that faces
any threats which are not always the European democracies. The organization has to ensure
greater participation for the countries other than the European democracies, for example Japan
and Australia and move eastward (Wolff 2015). Unless the organization has greater and larger
scope based on a wide area and good number of countries, the organizatoon has less chance to
suceesd in future.
Thirdly, technological and political changes have occurred so much that the large
military defense forces of the NATO are no longer required. Rather there is a growing demand
for co-operation in the non-military areas. Due to the dispute in Ukraine, the relationship
between Russia and USA changed drastically (Forsberg et al 2015). However, NATO responded