NATO's Prague Capabilities Commitment
Abstract
With the end of the Cold War, NATO began to reassess its collective defense strategy and to anticipate possible new missions. The conflicts in the Balkans highlighted the need for more mobile forces, for technological equality between the United States and its allies, and for interoperability. In 1999, NATO launched the Defense Capabilities Initiative (DCI), an effort to enable the alliance to deploy troops quickly to crisis regions, to supply and protect those forces, and to equip them to engage an adversary effectively. To meet the DCI's goals, however, most allied countries needed to increase their individual defense budgets, a step many were reluctant to take. The war in Afghanistan marked a new development in modern warfare through the extensive use of precision-guided munitions directed by ground-based special forces; many believe that this step widened the capabilities breach between the United States and its European allies. At its November 2002 summit in Prague, NATO approved a new initiative, the Prague Capabilities Commitment (PCC), touted as a slimmed-down, more focused DCI, with quantifiable goals. Analysts have cautioned that the success of PCC will hinge upon increased spending and changed procurement priorities -- particularly by the European allies. During the second session of the 109th Congress, law makers are likely to review the alliance's progress in achieving PCC's goals. This report will be updated periodically. See also CRS Report RS21354, "The NATO Summit at Prague," 2002, by Paul Gallis.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 18, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA485865
Entities
People
- Carl W. Ek
Organizations
- Library of Congress