Translation: Observer.com
NATO, a cross -Atlantic Alliance, really should really receive people's birthday wishes for themselves.In the 40 -year Cold War era, the organization maintained peace and protected Western European countries from being exempted from communist Soviet Union.NATO also stabilized the situation in the European Union after the disintegration of the Soviet Union, and promoted the region to achieve unprecedented prosperity.NATO shows admirable openness, keeping pace with the times and dedication.For a long time, our lives are so stable and peaceful, and we all think of it for granted. However, all of this must be attributed to the existence of NATO. The head of the European leadership network of London think tanks and the former British ambassador to NATO Adam Middot; Tomson (Tomson (Sir Adam Thomson) commented on the contribution of NATO.
This cross -Atlantic league seems to be stronger than ever in many ways.It will soon have 30 member states, covering a total population of more than 930 million.The total amount of GDP of NATO nationals accounts for about half of the world's, while national defense expenditures account for 55%of the world's.From the ambitious combat preparation plan to the new command center, the NATO countries are implementing a list of matters set up at the summit last year.
However, NATO also has its own troubles.Douglas Lute and Nicholas Middot; Nicholas Burns, the former Ambassador to NATO believes that US President Trump has dragged this alliance into the most worrying crisis in crisis.EssenceHarvard University Kennedy College Belffe Middle recently published a very detailed evaluation report entitled to NATO entitled seventy -seventh. They listed a series of fearful challenges that NATO faced. The most serious of which was NATO in historyFor the first time, a strong and principled US presidential leader was lacking.
In fact, Trump did do something that is good for NATO.For example, he asked NATO allies to increase military expenses and make more contributions to his own defense and security.Trump also pointed out the German issue.NATO's first secretary -general, Middot; Lord Hastings Ismay once had a famous saying to drive away the Russians and invited Americans to suppress the Germans.Essence
In addition, Trump also wakes NATO that is accustomed to complacent: some of his remarks objectively prompt the NATO countries to re -examine and decide the fundamental reasons why the organization exists;The stimulation of the Parliament has led to the US Congress's strong expressions to maintain the position of NATO; he also asked those ministers to pose a pen to explain to the public why the world still needs the NATO to play a role.Trump has aroused a major discussion on the future development trend of European defense in mainland Europe.If someone has some doubts about whether NATO is needed, then a series of events (maybe plus Putin's role in Putin), which has been stated around Trump's President NATO, has stated that NATO will continue to play its role.
NATO protects Europe's security, and at the same time, it also meets the interests of the United States.NATO maintenanceers said that the mentality of Trump's business on NATO's issue is wrong (Mr Trumprsquo; S TRANSACTIONACH IS WRONG-Headed).The American allies should indeed do more, but the existence of allies has also enhanced the strength of the United States. They provide personnel, equipment and valuable military bases for the United States.In the era of the upcoming big country, the support provided by the allies will be very stupid.The United States has many allies within NATO and Asia, and the situation in China and Russia is completely different from the United States. They do not have an ally.
Trump should realize that it is really necessary to continue existing in NATO, and there is full support argument about this.Regardless of whether Trump can be re -elected, the geopolitical situation of this world will constantly change.If NATO hopes to continue to maintain its strong strength in the next decades, then it must start preparing now.To this end, NATO needs to make difficult adjustments in many aspects, of which the following three aspects are very important.
First, NATO must speed up decision -making.NATO has to coordinate the opinions of all 30 member states when making decisions, which makes the decision -making process very lacking efficiency.The bureaucratic system that reforms NATO may play some role, but the effect will not be obvious.James Middot, the former Supreme Coalition Commander of NATO; James Stavridis (James Stavridis) said that if he has magic, he hopes that a mobilization of the NATLANTIC COUNCIL, the highest decision -making institution in NATO, will be members.The head of state and the head of the country, the head of the government, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Defense, the permanent council consists of the ambassador of all member states in NATO.Support tickets can pass, he believes that a veto system should be abolished.In some cases, NATO's decision -making mechanism is indeed too slow: it may take 3 hours to call all members of the North Atlantic Council to the conference room.When a missile is flying to Manchester, if NATO's decision -making is still inefficient, then we have to say to Manchester, and the former deputy secretary -general of NATO Sanddot; Sandy Vershbow.In addition, NATO needs to establish a clear emergency response mechanism.
Secondly, NATO should be very careful to determine its priority tasks.At present, NATO is not only strengthening collective defense, but also in crisis management.This will lead to a situation: In order to maintain many member states in the NATO framework, NATO has to disperse energy to multiple directions.Therefore, NATO should make difficult strategic choices as soon as possible.Which tasks should be given up?How much attention should NATO pay the increasingly warming issues such as Arctic?Should NATO continue to open the door to new members?Has the expansion of NATO reached the limit?
The third point involves how NATO should respond to China's rise. If NATO wants to continue to maintain its influence in the world in the future, this may be the most important.Today, the focus of the United States is increasingly shifting to the Asia -Pacific region. What does it mean for the NATO's cross -Atlantic Alliance?With China's leading position in the field of 5G mobile communications technology, as China continues to advance its Belt and Road Initiative, European allies in the United States have begun to realize how competition in the United States and China will have a impact on itself.Of course, not all NATO countries will worry about it.However, there is no doubt that the future competition in the United States will definitely have a significant impact on them.
NATO can take some small actions in the early days.For example, NATO can start diplomatic dialogue with China, and NATO can also strengthen contact with friendly countries in the Asia -Pacific regions such as Australia and Japan.In fact, those NATO allies (especially the United Kingdom and France) with global thinking are actively participating in the freedom of navigation and flying in the Asia -Pacific region.
However, Europe and the United States still need to carry out a clearer task division of labor on the issue of China's rise.Stephen Walt, Stephen Walt at the Kennedy College of Harvard University, said that one day, a new cross -Atlantic agreement should be reached between the United States and its European allies: Americans promised to continue to stay in Europe, but the scale will be reduced;The Europeans promised to increase spending in European defense and support the United States in the field of US -China trade friction and the intellectual property dispute in the United States and China. theirGame in their own region and take on boardAmericarsquo; S Concember Over China on Trade and Intellectual Property).However, the possibility of reaching this agreement is very small.Because the premise of reaching such a grand agreement is that the United States and Europe have a common worldview, but this premise does not actually exist.In fact, there are differences in the United States and Europe in many aspects.Trump has described the EU as an enemy on trade issues; Europe is also trying to deal with extraterritorial laws that the United States shows the US on sanctions on Iran.
Under such a situation, who is responsible for the division of mission division of mission in dealing with the rise of China's rise?Some heavyweight members in NATO have their own troubles to deal with: the United States should deal with Trump, Britain wants to solve the Brexit problem, France should calm down yellow vest protests, Italy should deal with domestic populism, Germany must be MerkelTimes are sent off, and Turkey is being seduced from Europe.In such an era, it is very rare for everyone to sit together as NATO ally.
Even so, it is stupid to underestimate NATO's ability to restore self, and NATO has indeed successfully recovered itself.However, if NATO hopes to have a strong physique at the age of 100, the seventies of the old man must experience the transformation again.
