At the Crossroads of the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Burdensharing Debate - The U.S. Dilemma: Which Path to Choose

摘要

This study focuses on the future of the United State's burden-sharing responsibilities within NATO. It examines an alliance in transition -- assessing the future allocation of roles, risk, and responsibilities. The first segment concentrates on political, economic, social and technical impacts -- concluding that: Europe must maintain primacy in U.S. defense planning; the Soviet Union will continue to be the U.S.'s most formidable adversary; NATO must recognize its global responsibilities; and the U.S. and its allies must strengthen cohesiveness through compromise. The second segment builds upon these judgements -- proposing ten guidelines for use in allocating burden within NATO. The analysis demonstrates that while many factors impact upon the burdensharing debate, economic assessments are the most contentious. Several economic assessments are conducted -- each showing that the U.S. contributes a disproportionately high share of the financial support to the alliance. The author then identifies factors which dictate a redistribution of costs, demonstrating that failure to reallocate expenses will neutralize the remaining nine findings. Specific recommendations include: selected implementation of role specialization; increased standardization; recognition of indirect costs; incorporation of non-quantitative commitments; better use of multilateral agreements; and a review of the current force structure within NATO. The study concludes by warning that although a redistribution of U.S. commitments is warranted, any reduction of U.S. responsibilities will bring with it a corresponding reduction in the United State's dominant leadership role within NATO. Resource allocations. (EDC)