The Transformation of the Military Alliance in Europe and Cooperative Security Structures
Security: Theory and Policy
1998 Volume 1998 Issue 117 Pages 175-190,L17
Details
1998 Volume 1998 Issue 117 Pages 175-190,L17
Immediately after the sweeping changes in Europe in 1989, the CSCE was expected to play a significant role as a European-wide forum. However, its role has been marginalized by NATO and its mission has turned out to be conflict prevention, while NATO has become the core of the multi-layered security structure in Europe. It was not the OSCE which had a role in stabilizing the effect of NATO enlargement, but it was NATO itself. In May 1997, NATO and Russia agreed to the Founding Act, and established institutionalized cooperation between them. Due to its eastward enlargement, NATO has developed cooperative security structures, such as the Partnership for Peace (PfP), the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council (PJC) in its outskirt, while keeping its collective defense among member-states intact.
After the collapse of the Warsaw Treaty Organization and the disintegration of the USSR, NATO members had no intention of disbanding the alliance. Due to the end of the East-West military confrontation, NATO has undergone “transformation.” Crisis management has become its new mission, which includes non-article 5 operations in its “out-of-area” where NATO members' security might be threatened. The emergence of European security and defense identity (ESDI) has been another challenge to NATO. NATO has gradually changed its force structures in order to meet its traditional and new missions.
NATO itself has influenced non-NATO countries by way of the innovative PfP. NATO has helped establish a democratic army and civilian control system in the former Soviet bloc. These countries which wish to be NATO members have introduced NATO procedures and has tried to enhance interoperability with NATO forces. NATO is transforming the non-NATO countries' military system by way of a cooperative security approach. The basis of this approach has been established in the CSCE/OSCE for more than twenty years.
