NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg said that there is unique opportunity for NATO alliance to start a new chapter in the transatlantic relationship and he as Secretary General strongly welcome the Biden administration’s message on rebuilding alliances and strengthening NATO. Stoltenberg was discussing NATO’s role and agenda in NATO’s Foreign Ministerial meeting in Brussels. The US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also participated in the meeting and called reunion on NATO’s 2030 initiative.
Stoltenberg further said that NATO 2030 initiative is all about the great global challenges including Russia’s destabilizing activities, the threat of terrorism, cyber attacks and nuclear proliferation, disruptive technologies, rise of China, and the security impact of global warming and climate change.
While stating NATO’s future transatlantic agenda, he said that it must remain strong both as a military and as a political alliance to broaden the approach to security by strengthening our resilience, preserving technological edge, addressing the security impact of climate change and working together to take a global approach by protecting the rules-based international order, which is being challenged by authoritarian powers like Russia and China.
On the other hand, Blinken said that United States’ steadfast commitment to that alliance, which has been the cornerstone of peace, prosperity, stability for the transatlantic community, for more than 70 years. US wants to revitalize the alliance to make sure it’s as strong and effective against the threats of today as it has been in the past.
North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO) remained a vital asset of United States foreign Military Campaigns over decades. The 30 members NATO alliance was formed more than seven decades ago in 1949. Its initial aim was to provide collective defense to member states in case of foreign aggression with particular focus on Ex. USSR. Later in 1990, NATO extended it’s role in Political and Humanitarian domains. NATO played an important role during cold war and in post 9/11 scenario in Afghanistan under article 5 of NATO’s constitution. Besides it, NATO had played important role in Iraq, Libya, Syrian civil war and others.
Now the new threats have emerged due to rise of China and resurgence of Russia. There was a need to reinvigorate the NATO alliance to counter the threats including China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. The United States has mobilized this forum swiftly to curb the economic and political influence of its adversaries through imposition of economic sanctions against selected entities, individuals and private businesses etc. The NATO platform is a vital weapon in the America’s hands which can heavily damage the economies of its adversaries. However, use of economic option in case of China and Russia would proved to be two edge weapon having counterproductive effects for EU members states too. The several EU member states have significant financial stakes in Russia and China and they may have different opinion in severing their ties with their proposed enemies. There is similar situation in case of German Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. Germany sees this project essential for it’s economy while US perceives it bad for EU members countries such as Ukraine, Poland, and others. However, United States is heading to take more strict financial and economic measures including limiting trade ties with Russia and China to contain their growing Political, Military and economic influence around the globe. However, this would not be a single way traffic, EU will also suffer it’s repercussions.
