From Wales to Warsaw: NATO's Future beyond the Ukraine Crisis

Abstract

ABSTRACT Since Russia's illegal annexation of parts of Ukraine, the question of NATO's tasks and missions is back on the agenda. Some NATO allies favor a “back to basics” approach with an Alliance that concentrates on its defense mission according to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. However, Putin's neo-imperialist course is not the only reason for a profound reassessment of NATO's future role. Instead, the growing relevance of China, the eruptions in the Middle East, or the stronger U.S. focus on domestic problems require NATO to preserve its 360° global perspective in order to be prepared for the twenty-first century. Thus, preparing for the next summit in 2016 in Warsaw, NATO allies need to find consensus on future members, on NATO's role in Asia, on the scope of partnerships, and on how to deal with the Middle East.