Long-Term Planning in NATO - A Tool to Enhance the Alliance's OverallEffectiveness

摘要

The introduction of a long-term planning process in NATO has already improvedforce planning in the Alliance. Refinement of that process, and greater planning authority of the NATO staffs can significantly increase NATO's overall cost effectiveness. Creating the conceptual framework and longterm planning guidance will reduce the cumbersome process of trying to harmonize nationally and separately derived mission need documents before any armaments cooperation and weapons system development can be attempted. Shrinking resources Alliance-wide put increasing emphasis on the effectiveness of remaining forces. Only a top-down approach to defense planning and acquisitions can eliminate parallel development efforts and also avoid gaps in force capabilities due to unharmonized rational force contributions to the Alliance. More planning authority for the NATO staffs and agencies could also clear the path to a more integrated force structure and,