EUROPEAN SECURITY: U.S. and European Contributions to Foster Stability and Security in Europe
Abstract
Since the Cold War, U.S. policymakers have debated the nature and extent of the contributions of the United States and its European allies to security and stability in Europe. During the Cold War, this debate centered on whether Europeans were spending enough on military forces and capabilities. However, the breakup of the Soviet Union resulted in the emergence of a broader set of instabilities and threats, characterized by ethnic conflicts in the Balkans. In this environment, new questions have arisen about the extent of the military and nonmilitary contributions the United States and its European allies are making to security in the European region. In response to the mandate contained in the Lloyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001,1 we identified and assessed (1) U.S. and European military and nonit%tary contributions to security and stability in the European region, (2) U.S. and European military and nonmilitary contributions to security and stability in the Balkans, and (3) the status of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European defense initiatives to improve military capabilities for conflict management. In addition, this report summarizes the results of a companion GAO report concerning the effects of forward-deployed U.S. forces in Europe on mobility requirements in the event of a regional conflict in Europe or the Middle East.2 To meet these objectives, we analyzed a range of documents and interviewed numerous military and political officials from five European allies and the United States. We define European allies as European NATO and European Union countries,4 and Switzerland.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA396739
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office