Can NATO Transcend Its European Borders? NATO Out-of-Area Disputes
Abstract
At first glance, it is a familiar picture. An American delegation is once again in Brussels trying unsuccessfully to convince the NATO allies to join the United States in an extra-European contingency. But first impressions can be deceiving. For the circumstances surrounding the ongoing crisis in the Persian Gulf are unprecedented in NATO's 42 year history. And for the first time in that history there is a real danger that intra-alliance disputes arising from an out- of-area challenge could destroy the alliance. Western policy makers must tread carefully if they are to avoid outcome. They must be guided by lessons of past attempts at out-of-area cooperation, and be able to adapt these lessons to current circumstances. This monograph is an attempt to contribute to the evolving debate about the future of NATO out-of-area cooperation. It will look at the historical record and consider its relevance in a post-cold war era. It will also offer some recommendations for managing the intra-NATO debate about allied responsibilities in the Persian Gulf.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 21, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA233530
Entities
People
- Douglas T. Stuart
Organizations
- United States Army War College