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| Updated: 07-Oct-2002 | October 2002 |
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Which NATO in 2012?
The NATO Secretary General, Lord Robertson, outlined the need for an "ark of security" capable of responding to "a guaranteed supply chain of instability" at a high-level conference on NATO's future in Brussels on 3 October. The conference, organised by NATO and the German Marshall Fund of the United States, brought together prominent speakers, policymakers and journalists to debate the future shape and role of the Alliance. Facing a supply chain of instability What will the future be like? There will be more instability, more spillover, more terrorism and more failed states, Lord Robertson predicted in his opening statement. (speech) How to meet these threats? NATO's ability to act as an "ark of security" rests on five "planks" he said: military capabilities, consultation among Allies, NATO-Russia co-operation, co-operation with non-NATO countries and interaction with other international organisations. The need to enhance the Alliance's military capabilities was a theme that was highlighted by all the speakers. The Defence Minister of Norway, Kristin Krohn Devold, said that what Europe wants from NATO is new tools and concepts to tackle the new threats. (speech) Stephen Hadley, the United States Deputy National Security Adviser, highlighted the need for capabilities and forces that would allow the Alliance to tackle security threats across the globe. (speech) Ways of enhancing the Alliance's operational capabilities was also the focus of the afternoon debate and a luncheon address by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Joseph Ralston. (speech) Speakers emphasized the benefits and importance of the enlargement of the Alliance and its efforts to enhance its partnerships with non-member countries. NATO needs to expand in order to deal effectively with what are global threats, said the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Bronislaw Geremek, in his debate on the implications of the Prague Summit with the former Minister of Defence of France, Alain Richard. (transcript) In the afternoon debate, Marc Perrin de Brichambaut, of the French Ministry of Defence, General (ret.) Klaus Naumann, former Chairman of the NATO’s Military Committee, and Julian Lindley-French, of the European Union Institute for Security Studies, discussed practical ways of improving the Alliance's military capabilities.(transcript) The discussions closed with an address by Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy representative, who focused on the European Union’s contribution to a revitalized transatlantic relationship. (transcript) Additional information:
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