NATO Mission

In its formation, NATO was initially meant as an organization that would prevent the expansion of Communism into Western Europe via Soviet influence.  But, with the collapse of the Soviet Union, The large enemy that had existed previously no longer existed.  Some questioned whether or not NATO would continue, with its initial mission changing.  

NATO has a clear tilt towards the United States and its interests, and therefore it can be said that it is meant to defend American interests.  But speaking more broadly about the mission, and less specifically to the United States, NATO is meant to advance the security interests of the countries within the western hemisphere. 

This is made clear by the NATO mission in Afghanistan.  This is not a country that is a particular threat, and Russia and China really don’t have anything significant when it comes to their role there.  Instead, it is a mission that is based on stabilizing a country so that religious extremism, which is an issue specific to Afghanistan in Taliban controlled areas where Al-Qaeda is able to operate, so that Western security is enhanced.  

The change is interesting because it started out as a military organization that set out to prevent attacks or intrusions from exterior forces in a defensive way, but it has come to change into something that is more aggressive.  Going out and seeking a fight is not something that was initially seen as a NATO goal.  

NATO has not just evolved to counter terrorism.  It continues to represent a strong defense against rising powers in China and Russia, where the two nations can be seen as increasingly threatening.  By uniting the 29 nations together who are a part of NATO, it makes up a much more powerful block then each one by themselves.  In a way, the bloc can be seen as one larger military interest.  

A problem that can crop up with this is the difference in what each country believes is critical.  Communism was something that was easy to identify and fear.  It influenced every nation to at least some extent, and as a result could take over any nation.  The same is not true of whether an invasion of Afghanistan truly serves people’s interests.  France, Germany, and Canada will all have strikingly different opinions on that.