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doubtsaboutthefutureofAfghanistan,ISAF’sactionsimprovedthe
securityconditionsinthecountryandprovidedthespaceforits
politicalandeconomicdevelopmentand,crucially,forthegrowth
ofitssecurityanddefenceforces.
Finally,thefutureofNATOwillalsodependtosomeextentonthe
skillfulmanagementofthesystemofpartnershipsandtheissue
ofenlargement.Someofthepartnerswhohavebeenengaged
inNATO-ledoperationsareexpectinginreturnthatthealliancewould
bewillingtosupportthemintheirregionalcontingencies,beitinthe
GulfregionorinEastAsia.However,boththememoriesofthestress
putonNATObythemissioninAfghanistan,andtheworseningofthe
securityenvironmentinthenearvicinityofthealliance,seemtohave
reducedtheappetitefora“GlobalNATO,”which,apartfromopening
itselftonewmembers,wouldalsoformanimportantpart
ofaworldwideassociationofcombat-readydemocraciesfightingfor
noblecauses.NATOcannotdisengageitselfeasilyfromthewider
world,butitdoesneedtoadoptamuchmoreselfishandutilitarian
approachtopartners.Thesamelogicismostlikelytoapplytothe
partnerswhoseekNATOmembership.Hardquestionswillbeasked
bothabouttheiraddedvalueforthealliance(theBalkancountries)and
aboutthewillingnessandabilityofNATOtoprotectthemincase
ofaggressionandintimidation(Georgia,andpossiblyUkraine).
SomecommentatorshaveclaimedthatPutingaveNATOanew
leaseoflife.Thatmaybeanexaggeration,butcertainlyRussia’s
actionsagainstUkrainehelpedtofocustheattentionofourpolitical
classandourpopulationsonthebasicissuesofconditionsforassuring
peaceandsecurityintheEuro-Atlanticarea.TheNorthAtlantic
Allianceremainsanimportanttoolforallitsmembersintheturbulent
internationalenvironment.Itsfuturemaybefullofchallenges,but
itisbynoaccountdestinedtoendupinthedustbinofhistory.
