Partnerships: Old and New

Coming at the cusp of a number of major anniversaries, this edition of the NATO Review focuses on several of the Alliance’s most significant relationships, and on some of the structures that underpin NATO’s partnerships.

In recent years, these relationships have become increasingly essential to the Alliance’s efforts to promote security, democracy and the rule of law in the wider Euro-Atlantic area and beyond.

As geo-political realities have shifted following the end of the Cold War, and again after 9/11, so NATO’s partnership programmes have grown and evolved to reflect the new environments. These programmes have provided forums for open dialogue, greater understanding and joint action with former adversaries, facilitated concrete security collaboration with Partner countries, aided aspirants to become Allies and contributed to a wider culture of Euro-Atlantic security, stability and cooperation.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the NATO-Russia Founding Act, as well as the fifth anniversary of the inauguration of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC). Dmitri Trenin suggests a future course for relations with Russia, while Paul Fritch discusses the achievements of the NRC in a commemorative article.

Robert Simmons reflects on ten years of achievements by the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC), and Professor Grigoriy Perepelytsia discusses Ukrainian steps towards Euro-Atlantic integration on the tenth anniversary of the NATO-Ukraine Charter on a Distinctive Partnership. Former president Lech Wałęsa reminisces on the tenth anniversary of NATO’s membership invitation to Poland.

Professor Adrian Pop makes the case for greater NATO-EU cooperation, and we interview Lieutenant General David Leakey, Director-General of the EU Military Staff, on EU military developments and cooperation with NATO.

Dr Amadeo Watkins and Srdjan Gligorijevic advocate greater NATO engagement in the western Balkans, while Dr Masako Ikegami discusses a potential role for the Alliance in improving East Asian security.

In addition to the articles featuring NATO’s partnerships, Adrian Kendry explores the economics of international terrorism, and on the fortieth anniversary of the relocation of Alliance headquarters from Paris to Brussels, François Le Blévennec recounts the trials and tribulations of ‘the big move’.