Strategic Security Policy of USA and NATO in the Modern World
Abstract
A special place in ensuring international security is occupied by the USA and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO. The existence of this largest international organization with the participation of the USA counts for more than seven decades, and during this time it has not lost its global importance. Many believed that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, NATO lost its purpose of existence. Still, it is clear that NATO has not lost but has significantly expanded, and strengthened, and its "open door" policy gives democratic states a unique opportunity to be a member of NATO and protect human fundamental rights and values, to contribute to world security and to protect its territorial integrity. Also, with other member states, it should enjoy the opportunities and privileges defined by the joint policy of the American and European partner states of NATO.
Today, NATO is a military-political union consisting of 32 states, the purpose of which is to ensure peace in the North Atlantic space, freedom, and security of its member states, both by political and military means. The Alliance strictly protects and respects such values as the sovereignty of the member states, territorial integrity, democracy, individual freedom, human rights, and the rule of law. When talking about NATO and its political prospects, it is necessary to focus on NATO's "open door policy" defined in the Washington Basic Treaty. NATO's enlargement policy is aimed at inviting new states into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and ensuring higher security standards. NATO's "open door policy" is based on Article 10 of the alliance's founding document, the North Atlantic Treaty (1949). The treaty states that NATO membership is open to any "European state that can further the principles of this treaty and contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area."
To analyze the new world order, it is necessary to note that transatlantic relations have experienced significant tension, especially during the last decade. Despite the absence of direct military conflicts between great powers, actors in the international system seem inclined to use force or to declare the use of force in conflicts. However, at the same time, "soft power" is now more important than ever in international politics. In addition to international security, it is necessary to analyze NATO's regional approaches, whose logic of regional security cooperation is clear: with the right pooling of resources, like-minded countries can strengthen their security more effectively.
NATO will never be a global alliance, but its new strategy reflects the realization that the security of allies depends not only on eliminating the Russian threat to Europe but also, even more, on transboundary challenges within China's borders, such as emerging technologies and climate change. Within the core task of cooperative security, the NATO partnership offers an opportunity to broaden the Alliance's global approach to security while strengthening its military and political dimensions.
NATO's new strategic concept confirms once again that NATO's main goal is to provide collective defense based on a 360-degree approach. It defines three main tasks of the alliance: a) deterrence and defense. b) crisis prevention and management. c) cooperative security.
Keywords: NATO, USA, North-Atlantic Alliance, Strategy, Security
