- Wednesday 01 February 2012 -
NATO’s new Strategic Concept by Klaus Wittmann
The Alliance’s Strategic Concept
A Strategy of Assured Protection and Comprehensive Cooperation
Introduction
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The North Atlantic Treaty of 1949, NATO’s founding docu-ment, finds its concretization in the Alliance’s Strategic Concept, constantly reviewed and periodically updated, last in April 1999. The Treaty itself remains valid with its commitment to internatio-nal peace, security and justice, to the freedom, common heritage and civilization of its peoples founded on the principles of demo-cracy, individual liberty and the rule of law, to the purposes and principles of the United Nations and to the peaceful settlement of disputes. Also the Washington Treaty’s main provisions endure: consultation (article 4), mutual assistance in the case of armed attack (art. 5) and openness for new members (art. 10).
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In the three phases of its history, NATO safeguarded Europe’s security during the East-West conflict, helped consolidate and stabilize Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe after the end of the Cold War, and took on peace missions beyond its area of mutual assistance after the terrorist attacks of September 2001. But the tasks of a new phase have not simply replaced the old ones: Assured protection of member states’ territory, populations and forces remains a permanent mission even without any con-crete adversary; much remains to be done to achieve a Europe “whole and free”; and out-of-area missions will continue to be asked of NATO, albeit not as its only action pattern for the future.
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This Strategic Concept encapsulates NATO’s “grand strategy”, reflecting the reaffirmation of NATO’s founding ideals, tasks and proven qualities as well as the readiness for constant renovation of an Alliance continuously adapting to the changing security land-scape and its demands. The document has a threefold purpose: It expresses the political commitment of member governments to the Alliance goals and their unequivocal resolve to implement them; it contains the principles and priorities to guide NATO and its military authorities through this decade; and it explains to member countries’ publics, but also to a global audience, NATO’s identity, legitimacy and efficiency as well as its policy as a force for liberty and peace, and as an essential source of stability. It is agreed at a time when NATO faces an increasingly globalised security environment, a demanding operation in Afghanistan and great financial constraints.
*See complete text in the Attachments Section below
- Wednesday 02 November 2011 -
Safer Overseas Diplomatic and Business Travel
A Security Awareness Training in Brussels
Date: Wednesday 16 November 2011, from 10:00 to 19:00
Venue: Result Group Brussels HQ, Square Ambiorix 13, Schuman, Brussels
Call us on +32486695139 to make a booking.
- Thursday 26 May 2011 -
Captured Mladic in Serbian Court
For all the wrong reasons
Although Serbia’s eventual ‘decision’ to go and get Ratko Mladic is very welcome news, while 16 years too late, the event again highlights the European Union’s i. failure to respond to violent conflict by ‘enforcing’ peace on our doorstep and ii. its inability and unwillingness to attach ‘conditionality’ on the Union’s vast financial means disbursed as development assistance in countries in the Balkans seeking EU Membership.
EU has wasted a golden opportunity in the Balkans to not only use the carrot of EU Membership, but also use the stick (possible because of the desire to join EU), when development assistance recipient states do not fulfill contractual conditions to such assistance. The people of the Balkans deserve a lot more than what their politicians and EU beaurocrats have been able to offer to date.
Mladic has been arrested at last, but not for right reasons of justice and the Rule-of-Law and their international ‘obligation’ to arrest him, but because of the economic benefits that would accompany EU Candidate country status and eventual Ascescion to the European Union.
Our thoughts go out to all the people of BiH and the families of the victims of Milosevic’s state-sponsorship of operations during the Balkan conflict, Karazdic’s policies in Bosnia and Mladic’s brutality.
Better days are now ahead for the Western Balkans.
