75 years of NATO- Explained Pointwise

April 4, 2024 marked the completion of 75 years of NATO. At the event celebrating the 75 years of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that NATO is bigger, stronger, and more united than ever.

NATO has certainly been expanding as an organisation, with the member countries reaching 32 from the initial 12. However, expansion is believed to be a key factor behind Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and the continued conflict. It also faces several challenges as an organisation.

What was the rationale behind the creation of NATO? What is the present structure and membership of NATO?

NATO- It is a Western security alliance founded on April 4, 1949, with 12 founding members. The 12 founding members signed the Washington Treaty, which was based on the Art 51 of the United Nations Charter. Art 51 of the UN Charter reaffirmed the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defence.

Background of Formation

The formation of NATO during the Cold War Era was to serve as a deterrent against Soviet expansionism. It was to counter the risk that the Soviet Union would seek to extend its control of Eastern Europe to other parts of the continent.

Membership of NATO

Original Founding Members- There were 12 founding members– Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Expanded Member States- It has expanded since its founding, with new member countries joining in multiple rounds. The alliance currently consists of 32 member countries. The expanded members include Greece and Turkey (1952), West Germany (1955; later as Germany), Spain (1982); the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland (1999); Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia (2004); Albania and Croatia (2009); Montenegro (2017); North Macedonia (2020); Finland (2023); and Sweden (2024).

Objectives of NATO

1. Collective Defence- It’s primary objective is collective defence, as outlined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty (North Atlantic Treaty). The concept of Collective defence stipulates that an attack on any of the members is an attack on all of them and demands collective action.

2. Political Cooperation- It’s objective is to promote democratic values and enable the members to consult and cooperate on defence and security related issues to solve problems, build trust and prevent conflict.

3. Military Assistance- It is also mandated to provide military assistance and undertake crisis management operations, in case of diplomatic failures in dispute resolution.

What have been the achievements of NATO in the last 75 years?

1. Collective security against superpowers of different ideology- During the Cold war era, NATO helped the European countries in securing their countries against a number of actual or potential dangers emanating from the erstwhile USSR. Post cold, NATO is helping the European Countries to compete ideologically, economically and strategically against the emerging super power China.

2. Controlling militarized conflicts in Central and Eastern Europe- It has played a key role in containing and controlling militarised conflicts in Central and Eastern Europe by actively promoting stability within the former Soviet bloc.

3. Stabilization of Western Europe- It has helped in the stabilization of Western Europe, whose states had been bitter rivals in the past. For ex- France-Germany relations.

4. Crisis management operations- It provides support to other countries in their crisis management operations. These range from aid operations such as its delivery of relief supplies after the 2005 Kashmir Earthquake to counter-terrorism operations in the Mediterranean and the coast of Somalia.

5. Invocation of collective security only once- Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty has been invoked only once so far following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. NATO forces were sent to Afghanistan and deployed for nearly 20 years.

6. Providing Humanitarian Aid to Ukraine- NATO has publicly denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine and NATO member countries and allies have provided substantial aid to Ukraine. The Ukraine war has reaffirmed the importance of NATO, and even spurred Finland and Sweden to increase their efforts to join the alliance

What are the Challenges being faced by the organisation?

1. Funding Challenges- Only a few members have met the defence spending target of 2% of their GDP, pledged after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. Currently, the US accounts for over 2/3rd of the alliance’s defence spending, which is considered unfair by the republicans in US.

2. Intra-block tensions- Disagreements between countries have led to intra-block tensions within NATO. For ex- Turkey holding off Sweden and Finland’s NATO’s membership for criticism of Turkey’s human rights violations. French president’s criticism of NATO regarding lack of strategic coordination between European allies and the United States and Turkey.

3. Deterioration of ties with Russia- Russia’s ties with NATO have now slipped to the level of direct confrontation in the face of NATO’s open support for Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine War.

4. Participation in military conflicts worldwide- NATO has gained a bad name for participation in more than 200 military conflicts worldwide, which includes 20 major conflicts. It has been criticised for inflicting damage, human toll and bringing destruction and alienation instead of declaring peace and stability. For ex- NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia, invasion of Iraq, and the unlawful military interference in Syria.

5. Continuation of Colonial practices in Modern Avatar- Increasing number of third world countries have started looking at NATO as a continuation of the ugly colonial practices in a modern avatar under the slogans of democracy, human rights and freedom as prescribed by the Euro-Atlantic rulers.

6. NATO’s unwarranted expansionism- NATO’s expansion in the post-Soviet space and Eurasia is creating more alienation and damaging the traditionally close ties between the countries. The possibility of Ukraine joining NATO has been cited as a significant reason for Russian actions in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict.

What Should be the Way Forward for its reform?

1. Restart the dialogue mechanism with Russia- NATO should abandon the strategic concept adopted at the 2022 NATO summit by which Moscow is proclaimed to be the most significant and direct threat to allied security, peace and stability in the Euro-Atlantic. The dialogue mechanisms with Russia must be started at the earliest.

2. Positive agenda for global peace- NATO should present it’s positive agenda to contribute to the maintenance of global and regional peace and security. It should allay the fears of expansionism and continuation of colonial expansion by enhancing transparency in their functioning.

3. Focus on Non-Traditional Threats- NATO should further adapt to address non-traditional threats like terrorism, cyber attacks, disinformation campaigns, and threats to supply chain security.

4. Enhance the Quality, Coherence and Timelines of Advice- The importance and functions of the five main policy committees within NATO, which include the Military Committee, Political Committee, Policy Coordination Group, Executive Working Group, and Senior Resource Board, must be enhanced.