NATO at 70

NATO member countries adopted a joint declaration admitting for the first time the challenges posed by the rise of China globally

Corina Cristea, 13.12.2019, 14:59

Meeting in early December in London, the leaders of NATO member countries adopted a joint declaration emphasizing the unity of allied countries, admitting for the first time the challenges posed by the rise of China globally. Also, the document shows that Russias aggressive action is a threat to NATO security, and provides assurances that the alliance is purely defensive in nature, and that its aim is disarmament. However, the document also specifies that the alliance will continue to bolster its ability for deterrence, defending itself with an adequate mix of nuclear, conventional, and anti-missile defense, continuously adapted. Professor Iulian Chifu,head of the Center for Conflict Prevention and Early Warning, believes the summit was a success:

“We had a North Atlantic Council, a final declaration, and documents that are more than encouraging, which reinforce these themes, including that in Article 5, which is profoundly valid, and is embraced by every member of the alliance. It is true that NATO in itself does not have any problems, but that various leaders of it have distinct agendas. They are not necessarily at loggerheads, NATO moves forward, and the principle all for one and one for all is profoundly valid, and embraced by everyone.”

Divergences within the alliance are inherent, but there are common points when it comes to ensuring security, fighting terrorism, or answering Russian provocations, said Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in London. The declaration specified the wish to start a process of reflection regarding the future of NATO, a decision saluted by French President Emmanuel Macron. He supports the idea that the alliance is brain dead, expressing his concern at Turkeys intervention in Syria and the fact that Ankara purchased a Russian anti-missile defense system. For the first time, NATO leaders discussed Chinas rise internationally. Here is Iulian Fota, a security analyst, detailing the point:

“NATO so far has not discussed China, so this is the first time that NATO takes a position in this regard, which is very interesting. This shows that the discussion is already advancing in this direction, and let us not forget that many experts already say that the future of NATO will be strongly influenced by the way it relates to China. If we were to talk of a rival in ideological terms, maybe even of a security threat towards the west, a very complex medium and long term one, everyone knows that this is China, and not Russia, which is a much weaker country. In spite of all the noise it makes, it does not have the necessary resources to carry through a confrontation with NATO on long term.”

The NATO summit brought a few advantages to Romania when it comes to its interests in the Black Sea. Here is Iulian Chifu once again:

“I believe that we can look at the nine points in the final declaration and well have the essence of a summit 70 years from the creation of the alliance, a special summit. For Romania in particular it has been beneficial in terms of its Black Sea interests, which is a zero level priority for the alliance, since it is a new operational space, in addition to the three conventional ones, plus cyberspace and outer space.”

In this context, Iulian Chifu adds, beyond confirmations and repositioning, as well as defense plans for the northern and southern parts of the eastern flank, there was a reiteration of all categories of threats. In addition, NATO is the international organization that has adapted the fastest to global threats, and this process of adaptation has to be continuing. This was emphasized by NATO Deputy Secretary Mircea Geoana in an interview for Radio Romania:

“We are an alliance that has adapted faster than any other to global changes. The point where a discussion is needed among alliance leaders is the need to have a strengthening of NATO at the political level. If we truly want to be able to adapt to global changes, as institutions of the democratic West, we can only do it by preserving a strong transatlantic relationship, strengthening NATOs European pillar, with a more robust European Union.”

Today the alliance is in impeccable health, even though the world is changing all around, Mircea Geoana believes, and we have to change, because the process of adaptation never stops.