The reshaping of NATO from a military perspective

Abstract

NATO is currently undergoing the most profound transformations in its history, both politically and militarily. While there has been much discussion of the former, it is the latter which entails the practical application and implementation of many of the changes and here General Klaus Naumann provides and overview of the military perspective of NATO's evolution. Identifying three major factors of instability in Europe—Russian instability, unresolved issues and the periphery—he leads into a discussion of NATO's widened mandate and future command structure, high lighting the CJTF concept and the ESDI as major components. The enlargement of the Alliance is seen as crucial to enhancing stability on the continent, where new and old partners will work together in collective burden sharing and collective defence. While this is a long term project and entails in particular working for closer ties with Russia and Ukraine, General Naumann believes that profound changes are necessary to achieve peace and stability in a turbulent world in transition.