NATO Flashcards
How many nations spend 2 % of GDP on defence in 2018?
Only 7, of which only 4 exceeded 2%
What catalysed support for NATO?
The desire to create a strong link between North America and Europe in response to the Soviet threat
What 3 things did the formation of NATO do?
- Appeased concerns about the German threat
- Contributed to ta greater sense of W EUR unity and security
- Provided a mechanism for USA to participate in EUR econ and mil recovery
When did the Warsaw pact disband?
1991
When were the Combined Joint Task Forces created?
1994
What did the CJTF give the possibility of?
- NATO to engage in mil action with other intl entities
2. For the non-participation of NATO members in alliance-approved military activities
What did George Kennan warn that the expansion of NATO east could be?
The most fateful error of American policy in the entire cold war period
When and where was it announced that the Ukraine and Georgia would join NATO?
At the 2008 Bucharest Summit
What prevents Sweden and Finland joining NATO?
Sceptical public opinion
Absence of elite consensus
What does Thies say is different about NATO to previous alliances?
- It is very different to pre-WWII great power alliances
- It is an alliance of democracies the possessed hidden strengths that allow it to overcome internal disputes
How did the likes of Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin Bismark and Napoleon view their allies?
As darkly as their enemies
The were tools to be used and then discarded or as dupes to be swindled and then abandoned.
What are the two dangers for statesmen in a multipolar system?
- The danger of being isolated in the face of a hostile alliance
- The danger that a series of gains for a single state could lead to a huge advantage
These suggest that statesmen will be quick to form alliances
In the 18C and 19C what was the only way to quickly augment national power?
Alliances
Increasing military power by mobilising domestic resources was limited and large armies would restrict economic growth
In 19C alliances in a multipolar, how did members view allies and enemies alike?
As long term rivals in the struggle for predominance
Why is there greater cooperation in a bipolar alliance?
There will be such a gap between the superpower and the smaller members that they are no longer rivals.
Prior to 1870 what were wars like?
Slow motion affairs
National existence not at risk
Poss loss of frontier province or two
Which two wars showed the new speed of conflict?
Austro-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
Which pre WWI alliances seemed more durable than the alliance of before?
Tripple Alliance
Tripple Entente
What does Wallace note is one of the hallmarks of the NATO in crisis literature?
Jumps to the conclusion that past failings will mean future disasters
What do politicians use coalitions and alliances for?
An example of wider support
Examples include Bush’s Coalition of the willing for Iraq 2003
While US and FRA argued about the invasion of Iraq where did the cooperate?
Intelligence sharing
FRA supported expanded NATO role if AFG
FRA supported UNSC resolution to lift sanctions on Iraq
What was Lift and Strike in Bosnia?
- Lift UN arms embargo to allow US weapons to Bosniaks
- Strike Bosnian Serbs if they continued to attack
What was agreed to eventually in Bosnia
- Enforcement of No-fly zone
- Targeting Serb weapons around sarajevo
- Coercive air campaign against Serbia
How did Kissinger describe the build up to the Iraq invasion for NATO?
The gravest threat in the Alliance since its creation
