Analysis & Opinions - Harvard International Review
Testing the NATO Alliance: Afghanistan and the Future of Cooperation
At the heart of the alliance is article five of the North Atlantic Treaty: if one NATO member is attacked, all will respond. Now, as US President Obama reminded us in Strasbourg, NATO "remains the strongest alliance that the world has ever known." NATO's summit, however, revealed the weakness of that alliance. Contrary to the spirit of the NATO treaty, some countries are doing much more in Afghanistan than others. The discrepancy is so great that it is almost misleading to call it a NATO mission. Countries cannot share the benefits of collective security without sharing its burdens too. Troops are needed to support the upcoming Afghan elections, to train Afghan soldiers, and to rebuild the country. But all of this depends on the security situation; the most urgent need is for troops to fight the Taliban.
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For Academic Citation:
Ibrahim, Azeem.“Testing the NATO Alliance: Afghanistan and the Future of Cooperation.” Harvard International Review, Summer 2009.
The Author
Azeem Ibrahim
- Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2008–2010
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At the heart of the alliance is article five of the North Atlantic Treaty: if one NATO member is attacked, all will respond. Now, as US President Obama reminded us in Strasbourg, NATO "remains the strongest alliance that the world has ever known." NATO's summit, however, revealed the weakness of that alliance. Contrary to the spirit of the NATO treaty, some countries are doing much more in Afghanistan than others. The discrepancy is so great that it is almost misleading to call it a NATO mission. Countries cannot share the benefits of collective security without sharing its burdens too. Troops are needed to support the upcoming Afghan elections, to train Afghan soldiers, and to rebuild the country. But all of this depends on the security situation; the most urgent need is for troops to fight the Taliban.
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via the original publication source.The Author
Azeem Ibrahim
- Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2008–2010
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
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Audio - Radio Open Source
JFK in the American Century
Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy
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Analysis & Opinions - The New York Times
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Most Viewed
Policy Brief - Quarterly Journal: International Security
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Why the United States Should Spread Democracy
