NATO Expansion: US Foreign Policy and Cold War Legacy - Essay Sample

Introduction

The issue of the expansion of NATO has been raised severally and become one of the relevant foreign policy elements of the US. NATO has remained the pillar of the US-European military cooperation, and the expansion of its allies has taken on a wide range of missions since the Cold War was closed. Also, it was predictable that NATO, which is the central instrument of the US foreign policy in Europe in the entire cold war, would become the subject of debate in the wake of the end of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. However, questions have been raised concerning the need for NATO'S continued existence, the proper balance between American and European contributions, and the likelihood and popularity of implementing new undertakings for NATO. Issues have also emerged from the aspect of peacemaking in Europe to fighting war outside. The less predictable point was that the most robust and extended debate would be over NATO's magnitude. The expansion of NATO would strengthen the regional security through fostering in new members and habits of cooperation and consultation, insisting on collective defense and extending benefits and further promoting proper neighbor relations among countries.

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The past few years have seen the allies and partners of NATO increase emphasis on the relevance of diverse and wide-ranging forces. The presence of such teams has been observed to be more inventive and process evidence more cautiously. They also allow excellent access to societies and tend to be professed as more sincere by the local populations in sections where NATO missions are positioned. As such, the presence of these benefits has resulted in NATO attempting to increase inclusion and diversity. They are trying to do this by improving their guidelines, tactics of recruitment, services, and training. They are also working on management, communication, instruction, observing, and reporting (Feffer, 2019). As such, all these have been geared towards strengthening regional security.

On the other hand, the judgment of regional security cooperation is evident. Countries can improve their security efficiently by pooling resources correctly. From the economic perspective, the partnership paves the way for the economies of scale. It further paves the way for the acquisition of equipment that would be unaffordable for people and mostly the smaller nations. From a military standpoint, cooperation tends to develop the potential of any individual country's armed forces. Politically, the element of collaboration in the field of security is the ultimate confidence and measure for developing security since it needs harmonization, precision, and mutual trust (Kinnvall et al., 2018).

NATO is stunning proof of the success of the approach described above. They have developed to become the most cohesive and efficient political or military alliance. NATO's experience further demonstrates that regional cooperation is not a replacement for other activities but a compliment. A country can have numerous security connections without any individual relationship suffering. It has been attributed to the fact that the capability of regional and sub-regional cooperation is evident (Valasek, 2019). As such, the Alliance has lent escalating support to these efforts and even among nations that do not desire to be members of NATO.

Additionally, there is no single approved document that demonstrates the rationale behind regional cooperation and the modalities by which NATO will support them. Instead, that method is established through numerous papers and policies. Each of them applies to a particular region or issue but, when combined, forms a complete rationale intellectually (Kinnvall et al., 2018). Therefore, NATO operates to promote regional security cooperation. All these are part of NATO's efforts to promote peace and security across the regions. It is also relevant to note that NATO adopts an individually targeted approach to every region. It is due to every area having its security problems in an exceptional geopolitical circumstance and also since each one of them is unique to NATO (Flockhart, 2014). Therefore, when NATO is expanded, it will strengthen regional security due to its close analysis and interest in security elements.

The security of Europe is a vital interest to America as it has been observed through the two world wars and the Cold War. NATO has also been a significant shield to guard that particular interest. By the Cold War coming to an end, NATO has remained the basis of trans-Atlantic security (Padrtova, 2017). As such, the presence of a tremendous and stronger NATO that incorporates the new democracies of Europe will be in a position to make America safe and provide Europe's security in a better way. It will further assist in deterring any future threats and expanding the mutual defense competence to tackle customary and non-traditional security problems. Moreover, having a stronger NATO will assist in securing the extraordinary advances of egalitarianism in Europe. It is also crucial to note that there is a strategy aimed at developing and undivided, democratic and peaceful Europe through NATO (German, 2017).

On the other hand, the existence of NATO is a fundamental reason as to why their current and prospective members are not faced with any impending risk of attack. Tallying new affiliates to its power means that they will be in a position to prevent conflict better and ensure that it does not arise. They will also become the most efficient restriction force. Furthermore, enlargement will make NATO more efficient in attaining its primary mission, which entails dealing with aggression against its member states (Mamedov and Lukyanov, 2018). It is also known that trans-Atlantic security has continued to be threatened by rogue states, cultural, racial, and religious revulsion and the cynical request of severe nationalism. As such, this has been observed from Bosnia. However, when there is an progressively consistent community of trans-Atlantic states that can integrate their security possessions better, then they will deal with any form of incidents that occur (Shifrinson, 2020).

The expansion of NATO will further assist in guarding against the nontraditional security pressures that occur from external Europe and which intimidate NATO associates. The risks may include the spread of weapons of mass devastation and long-term conveyance structures. An individual country cannot handle these threats. Nevertheless, through enlargement and strengthening of NATO, it will assist them in broadening and further intensifying multi-coordination (Lang, 2018). Thus, NATO is viewed as one of the most proficient mechanisms to deal with these problems.

It is necessary for the alliance that intends to expand NATO to be prepared for other forms of contingencies as well. As such, it should include the likelihood that Russia could abandon democracy and go back to the intimidating conduct of the Soviet period. The policy of engaging Russia aims at providing strong motivations to intensify its obligation to egalitarianism and peaceful dealings with their neighbors (Lamoreaux, and Dyerly, 2018). Therefore, when these efforts are joined with the procedure of NATO strengthening and enlargement, then they will surge the probability that Russia will maintain the path of self-governing and diplomatic expansion.

Furthermore, the expansion of NATO will help in securing the notable advances of democracy in Europe and abolish the synthetic distributing line of Stalin. It has been observed that for 50 years, NATO has assisted in averting a reappearance to local oppositions, strengthened democracy, and created a secure setting for success (Le Jeune, 2010). An analysis of the previous instances of enlargement such as Turkey and Greece in 1952 and Spain in 1982 has shown that equality and permanence were strengthened and even added to the allied nations that were committed to defending the trans-Atlantic community (Le Jeune, 2010). The element of enlargement can now be reciprocated in the East of Europe as it was observed in the West. The viewpoint of membership has assisted in consolidating the aspect of democracy in Central Europe, strengthened the reform of the free market, and further encouraged NATO contenders to resolve arguments with their neighbors (Valasek, 2019).

During the organization of a summit meeting in Riga by NATO, most observers were gradually more concerned about their capability to satisfy their numerous new missions out of Europe. Their commitment to Afghanistan was rapidly growing and was at 30, 000 (Flockhart, 2014). As such, this was a reflection of their risky overstretching. During that time, NATO's leaders were expected to call for an innovative discourse with their international associates in Riga, which was a good initiative in the continuing alteration of the association. However, it was still viewed as ineffective. It was then decided that specific steps were necessary to tackle the current challenges. One of these was to make NATO larger and more global. It would be done by admitting any democratic state that was willing. The state also had to be able to donate to the contentment of the new duties of the alliance (O'Hanlon, 2017).

NATO's aptitude to bring nations with comparable interests and values together to fight international difficulties is controlled by the completely trans-Atlantic personality of its affiliation. It has further been observed that other democratic nations share their values and many common interests. They include South Africa, South Korea, Japan, India, Brazil, and Australia. All these nations can hugely add to NATO's determinations by giving extra military forces. They can also offer additional logistical backing to respond to universal needs and threats (Valasek, 2019). Therefore, the contribution of extra resources will make NATO secure and thus assure the effectiveness of regional security.

Most of the countries previously mentioned have been observed to have contributed to NATO activities in the areas of Afghanistan and Balkans. They were also part of the coalition in Iraq that was led by the US and to other operations targeted at peacekeeping globally. However, the dependence on ad hoc planning, such as these, represents a limitation of what is required to generate a more efficient global-responsive method. It has further been observed that NATO should identify the benefits of having more capable partners with whom they can share the increasing demand for military engagement worldwide (Valasek, 2019). When a crisis occurs, and NATO has been expanded with forces that can operate efficiently within themselves due to planning, training, and fighting, then they would work more successfully (Feffer, 2019).

The expansion of NATO through more resources and even members means that their capability to act will also be upgraded. The decision-making procedure will be appropriately developed and consent for accord without treaty. Instead of blocking a decision from being made, rebellious states may refrain from backing to any task that may arise. Thus, such practice would possibly develop in case NATO's memberships were to operate globally at that time since 1999 (Graeger, 2016).

Additionally, expanding NATO will enhance the security and permanence for all countries in the Euro-Atlantic region by insisting that a joint defense be adopted. NATO will also extend benefits and increase transparency in defense preparation and military finances. As such, this will minimize the possibility of unpredictability that might be brought by an entirely national method to the security strategy (Le Jeune, 2010). Another crucial element that would be attained by strengthening NATO is...