EXPANSION OF NATO

Expansion of NATO

Table of Contents

Introduction1

Discussion1

NATO1

Nature of Membership of NATO Countries2

Activities of NATO3

Working of NATO5

NATO and Russian Relations6

Recent Issues between Russian and NATO7

Expansion, Russia and NATO8

Conclusion10

References11

Expansion of NATO

Introduction

North Atlantic Treaty Organization comprises of 28 member countries from North America and Europe. NATO reviewed its strategic direction and decided to offer its membership to more states. Expansion by NATO to add newer states and it involvement in international conflicts has increased its role in the international politics and today it holds a more decisive role in establishment of Western relationship with former military power Russia. When NATO started its expansion plan, it opened dialogue with Russia and they together created a forum for cooperation. It was seen as a land mark achievement between the two and was short lived. NATO and Russia has been at odds on numerous international issues of conflicts besides terrorism and Russia has taken opposite or non-agreeing stands on Kosovo, Libya, Iran, and most importantly Georgia. The expansion of NATO to Central and Eastern European countries and with Ukraine and Georgia urging to join NATO, the influence of the organization has acquired strategic position around Russia. We will be reviewing NATO, in light of its increased member states and its international role. We will also review the relationship of NATO with Russia and its influence on the former's relationship with the West.

Discussion

NATO

NATO's primary function is to defend the freedom and provide security to its members by utilizing the collective influence all member countries. NATO utilizes military and political forces to ensure that its member states are not harmed by any other country. The organization currently comprises of 28 member states belonging to Europe and North America who cooperate and consult in the areas of defence and security. This has created an exclusive, yet powerful link of countries across the Atlantic who cooperate for security and politics (NATO, 2012). As unpredictability increases in the across geographic environment of politics, the alliance of NATO, formed in 1949 provides a vital and unique solution for ensuring stability. The members of NATO are now facing a wider range of security challenges than use to face in the past. Several threats are not bounded by region, such as the threat of terrorism, cyber attacks, and proliferation of destructive technologies such as ballistic missile and weapons of mass destruction. NATO even had intervened in countries to stop government repression of people and has provided protection to civilians (MANKOFF, 2012).

To meet the challenges of today, NATO is enhancing the required resources to respond rapidly, to complex and demanding crises. While NATO is encouraging an inclusive strategy for management of crisis by including military and civilian instruments besides involving politicians, it is also updating it deterrence and defence capabilities to ensure alliance's protection. NATO is also focusing on developing cooperation for security by involving numerous international organizations, countries, and partners.

Nature of Membership of NATO Countries

NATO is developing the network of members and partnerships across the globe. The NATO alliance helps in preventing ...