NATO Policy in the context of the new strategic situation in Europe In early April of this year, NATO celebrated the North Atlantic Treaty’s sixty-fifth anniversary, as well as three important anniversaries that improved the security and stability in Europe after the Cold War. Fifteen years ago, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland joined the NATO. Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia became members of the NATO ten years ago, Albania and Croatia – five years ago. In general, during more than 20 years security of Euro-Atlantic region was based on the premise that the European continent will never have any new dividing lines, and the principles and values on which modern Europe is building – no one will be questioned. However, the situation changed. Russia’s actions – the change of a legally recognized borders by force annexation of the territory of Ukraine, the active action to overthrow the legitimate government of a friendly neighboring country by destabilizing the political and socioeconomic situation – is a real threat to the current international system based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and their right to make their own choices without fear of intimidation or outside interference. Trying of Russia to create own sphere of influence of the Eurasian space by preventing the approval of new stable European democracies, that are able to question the legitimacy of authoritarian regime in the country, undermine the foundations of international relations, embedded after the Second World War. Under these conditions, NATO has faced with the necessity make painful but necessary choice – if Russia continuing the present course of aggression, confrontation and escalation of the conflict, the Alliance will have to consider the Russian Federation not only as a partner, but as an enemy. However, NATO emphasized that they did not want to appear before this choice, because since the end of the Cold War, the Alliance and its member states have made great efforts to establish friendly relations with Russia providing substantial financial support, and helped the establishment of democratic institutions in the early 1990s, contributed to acquiring full membership in the world’s leading institutions (eg, G-8). In preparation for the accession of the first post-communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe (Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary) NATO has assumed unilateral commitments to refrain from deploying significant military forces and not to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of new member states of the Alliance, in this way demonstrating that eastward enlargement is not directed against Russia. At the meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs on April 1, 2014 was clearly declared that cooperation with Russia remains the best way forward, but the Alliance should be
prepared for the fact that in the foreseeable future, Russia’s actions ‘contradict to our vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace’1 Together with sanctions and other measures taken by NATO and the EU state members, the Alliance’s responded to the crisis in Ukraine as follows: −
Confirmed full support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the
inviolability of its internationally recognized borders. In this regard, the allies are determined to maintain a long-term ‘non recognition’ policy of the Russian annexation of the Crimea; −
Decided to strengthen support to Ukraine through the intensification of political
and military cooperation, that includes assisting in the transformation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) in a modern and effective institution, which capable to defend their country from the external threats, while providing a reliable containment of the potential aggressor and increasing the capacity of AFU operate together with allied troops and take a broader participation in NATO military exercises; −
Assured the members in its commitments to the principles of collective defense
and deterrence, confirmed the sanctity and certainty of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, regarding which the Alliance will come to the defense of any Member State, both now and in the future (allies have deployed an extra fighter aircrafts to patrol the airspace of the Baltic member States and carry out observation flights over Poland and Romania). NATO is ready to take additional measures, if the circumstances would be required, and intends to take full advantage of the lessons of the crisis for future evaluations of its strategy, the construction and placement of forces; −
Has suspended almost all civilian and military cooperation within the Russia –
NATO, but the political dialogue will be supported to be able to exchange views on the current crisis and ways to resolve it. The foreign ministers of NATO member states will consider relations of the Alliance with Russia during the next meeting in June again. Also there will be revised NATO’s assumptions about the nature of relations with Russia, as well as unilateral commitments that NATO took over in 1990.2
1 NATO foreign ministers to reaffirm commitment to collective http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_108504.htm?selectedLocale=en.
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2 A new strategic reality in Europe: Speech by NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to the 21st International Conference on EuroAtlantic Security, Krakow, Poland, 04 Apr. 2014. – Access mode: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_108889.htm.
In preparation for the next summit in Wales (September 2014) NATO leaders stressed about the lessons that should make Alliance about the crisis, caused by the aggressive actions of Russia against Ukraine: −
The first important lesson is that NATO should maintain a sound system of
defense and deterrence in Europe through the allocation sufficient funds for defense and security, and stop the practice of annual cuts in defense budgets of the Member States in the light of the constant increases in defense spending in other countries. The responsibility of the Alliance for the security of its territory and population should be based on the full range of capabilities to deter and defend against any threat, including the ability of deploying expeditionary forces for future crisis management missions, achieving a high level of interoperability through a reliable program of training and exercises; −
The second key lesson is that now NATO for the development of stability requires
not only relevant opportunities, but also appropriate relationship. The Alliance should strengthen partnerships with other countries and organizations, and help them discover ways to bring stability in the region. In this regard, NATO must do everything possible to in close coordination with the efforts of the EU and other organizations to support Ukraine and other eastern partners such as Georgia and Moldova. The Summit in September will be an important opportunity to defend the principle that every nation has to freely choose own destiny. NATO members must demonstrate a strong commitment to Article 10 of the Washington Treaty, which affirms that our Alliance is open to the inclusion of new members who can contribute to our common security. NATO will keep its door open to new members, who wish to become members, making it clear that in this matter no external force cannot have a veto; −
Finally, the security crisis around Ukraine stressed the importance of preserving
and strengthening transatlantic relations. Despite the considerable strengthening temptation to go it alone or suspend the cooperation in certain areas due to difficult economic conditions of the last few years, America and Europe will have to stay, work and act together to protect common security and shared values. US will continue to participate in the maintenance of European security through continuous updating and modernizing forms of participation. In this regard, the United States expects that European countries will make more efforts to fulfill its political and military commitments. US and EU should redouble cooperative efforts to eliminate gaps in the areas of missile defense, cyber defense, joint intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Euro-Atlantic partners should closer join efforts to address security in the European space, in particular in relation to Ukraine. It is also important to continue cooperative work with problems outside Europe – Middle East, Africa or Asia. Also necessary to find a better balance of
responsibilities between the allies – both between the US and the EU, and between the allies in Europe. Strengthening multilateral cooperation within NATO’s new concept ‘Smart Defence’ or EU’s initiative ‘pooling and sharing’ can make changes. However, NATO convinced that a better balance can be achieved only if all allies maintain an adequate level of defense spending, both as a percentage of GDP and in relation to increasing the share of defense budgets earmarked for modernization and investment.3 In NATO stressed that because of the aggressive actions of Russia the Summit in September will take place in a completely different context. Of course, still will be considered the issues of the future of NATO, will determined its priorities for the period after 2014, ie after the completion of the alliance’s mission in Afghanistan. But these and other issues on the agenda will be discussed with a ‘sense of urgency’, taking into account the new serious challenge to European and international security.
REFERENCES AND ENDNOTES
1. A new strategic reality in Europe: Speech by NATO Deputy Secretary General
Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to the 21st International Conference on EuroAtlantic Security, Krakow,
Poland,
04
Apr.
2014.
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http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_108889.htm. 2. NATO foreign ministers to reaffirm commitment to collective defence. – Access mode:
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_108504.htm?selectedLocale=en. 3. Remarks by NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow at the
Vilnius Conference 2014 «NATO’s Open Door: Ten years after the «big bang»», 03 Apr. 2014. – Access mode: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_108850.htm?selectedLocale=en.
3 A new strategic reality in Europe: Speech by NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to the 21st International Conference on EuroAtlantic Security, Krakow, Poland, 04 Apr. 2014. – Access mode: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/opinions_108889.htm.