The Future Nato Project: Rethinking the Alliance

As NATO approaches its sixtieth anniversary, the Alliance finds itself involved in a conflict few of its founders could have imagined. Far from Europe, in the vast expanses of Afghanistan, NATO is on the front line in the struggle against international terrorism.

Update: A RUSI report 'NATO’s Agenda: Key Issues Facing the Bucharest Summit' is now available from the publications section below, in both English and French versions.

This operation follows on a series of NATO activities such as the humanitarian relief delivered to Pakistan following an earthquake, assistance to the US after Hurricane Katrina and the operations in Kosovo to stop ethnic cleansing.

While the Alliance has been more active than ever in the years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, transatlantic relations have become increasingly strained. The Alliance’s mission in Afghanistan has been difficult. A constant shortage of troops and logistics have pitted ally against ally. A division of labour between forces engaged in heavy combat in the south and those who are in the less volatile north is apparent. This runs counter to the basic tenet of the Alliance – solidarity.

At the same time, NATO still provides numerous benefits. Its military standards are the global gold standard and NATO allies can operate in an unparalleled integrated manner. The Alliance has also helped to ensure the stability of Europe in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the successful democratisation of Eastern Europe.

In light of these considerations, the April 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest and the special 2009 sixtieth anniversary summit will be important events. Therefore, RUSI has started a long-term project to examine the past, present and future of the Alliance.

Activities

Our project started with three conferences held in Romania in the run-up to the Bucharest summit. RUSI, working with three Romanian institutions, hosted a public dialogue on NATO’s role vis-à-vis energy security, the Alliance’s engagement in Afghanistan and continued Alliance involvement in the Balkans.

Later in 2008, the Institute will host in London a workshop on ‘NATO’s Strategic Concept beyond 2008’.

Publications

NATO’s Agenda: Key Issues Facing the Bucharest Summit

Agenda pour l’OTAN: Questions pour le Sommet de Bucarest

Contact

This website will provide all of the most up-to-date information on the project, activities at RUSI related to NATO and links to our partner programmes.

If you have any research or media queries, please contact one of our project staff listed on this page.