Shifting Interests: The Impact of the Iraq Crisis on NATO and the Evolution of the Transatlantic Relationship

摘要

What is the nature of changes in the transatlantic relationship following the Iraq War. Disagreement between some European allies and the United States over the legitimacy of the 2003 U.S. intervention in Iraq highlighted the underlying tensions between Europe and the U.S. that have historically characterized the transatlantic relationship. These tensions are not new and despite the much publicized division among Alliance members concerning military intervention in Iraq NATO will likely coalesce and adapt to meet new challenges in the future. The NATO Alliance and the transatlantic relationship are not fatally disrupted. Rather these tensions are indicative of the evolution of the security debate in Europe and the U.S. in which traditional informal alliances and frameworks are adapting to a new global security environment. Europe is not divided on issues of security and the net result of the post-Iraq tensions could mean a stronger - though different transatlantic tie. Specifically the transatlantic relationship may become stronger as a result of these tensions with the countries of eastern and southern Europe and weaker with other traditional allies. Strong U.S. bilateral relationships with newer members such as Romania Bulgada Slovakia Poland Hungary and the Baltic States and the so-called New Europe will provide a new dimension to the transatlantic relationship which may greatly benefit the U.S. in the future. Expansion to 26 members common perceptions on the threat of world terrorism continued focus on out-of-area operations and transformation of its command structure will likely continue to provide common ground for the transatlantic players even with other prospective negative points of division. This thesis asserts that NATO will survive the severe impact of the Iraq crisis on its political cohesion but that internal informal relationships will adapt to the new security environment.