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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

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As a military alliance with roots in the Cold War, NATO's strategy and purpose have had to shift since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. RAND has assisted U.S. and European defense establishments by recommending expansion strategies; analyzing activities in the Balkans and Afghanistan, areas outside NATO's traditional focus; and advising decisionmakers on issues critical to NATO's mission and the interests of its member nations.

Commentary
Avoiding a Long War in Ukraine
The United States has a strong interest in avoiding a long war in Ukraine. Although Washington cannot alone determine the war's duration, it can take steps to make an eventual negotiated peace more likely.
Jan 25, 2023
Commentary
A New Era? NATO's Prioritisation of Human Security in an Insecure World
Human security and NATO's role and responsibility to protect civilians during conflict saw new prioritization in the alliance's 2022 Strategic Concept. While much progress has been made, more could be done to ensure the alliance can deliver on these commitments.
Aug 10, 2022

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Commentary
Book Review: 'Escalation and Deescalation of Crises, Armed Conflicts, and Wars'
The evolving crisis in Ukraine has generated much discussion about whether Moscow would escalate the conflict, whether in frustration at the slow progress of its military operations, or in response to actions of other states, even possibly resorting to nuclear weapons. But what do Russian sources suggest about escalation?
Apr 11, 2022
Commentary
The Ukraine War's Three Clocks
As the war in Ukraine creeps into its second month, perhaps the most common question is: How will it end? Ultimately, the answer comes down to three internal clocks—Ukraine's, which is counting down in years, Russia's, in months, and the United States and NATO's, which is stalled at the moment but could restart quite quickly.
Apr 1, 2022
Commentary
The Will to Fight in the Age of Social Media
Social media messaging has played a decisive role in strengthening Ukraine's will to fight—arguably the single most important factor in war—against Russia.
Mar 22, 2022
Commentary
Duty Bound to Disaster: Beware the Imperative in Foreign Policymaking
Appeals for bolder action in Ukraine will understandably only grow more intense as the appalling humanitarian toll mounts. But imperative-driven action almost always leads countries astray—and in the days and weeks ahead, it will be critical for the United States to stay alert for its symptoms.
Mar 22, 2022
Commentary
After Russia's Ukraine Invasion, Seven Assumptions the U.S. and NATO Allies Should Drop
Given the realizations wrought by the recent invasion of Ukraine, the United States and its NATO allies might reconsider several assumptions and arguments that have limited conventional military deterrence in Europe. Making sure we are ready to defend and thus deter a larger war that must never be fought is critically important.
Mar 18, 2022
Blog
Putin's State of Mind, the Digital Skills Gap, International Women's Day: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on deterring Russian President Vladimir Putin, understanding America’s gun policy debate, improving teacher diversity, and more.
Mar 11, 2022
Commentary
Finland and Sweden Mull NATO Membership
After decades of military neutrality between NATO and Russia, recent events saw a potential sea-change in how Finland and Sweden consider their role with the NATO alliance. NATO leadership could start planning now so that if Sweden and Finland make the jump to joining the alliance, they can be welcomed in quickly.
Mar 3, 2022
Commentary
Ensuring Russia's War with Ukraine Doesn't Morph into Direct Conflict with NATO
Russia has launched an unprecedented act of aggression against Ukraine. The United States and its allies must respond forcefully. But as they do, they should take into account the possibility of triggering a spiral of escalation that could lead to the only outcome worse than the invasion of Ukraine itself: a hot war between Russia and NATO.
Mar 2, 2022
Brochure
Spotlight 2021–2022
Spotlight 2021-2022 highlights selected RAND Europe projects that address the important issues of our time. It also features research that is poised to make a difference in the coming year.
Feb 23, 2022
Journal Article
Nasty, Brutish, and Short—The Future of Space Operations in the Absence of the Rule of Law: Addressing Congestion, Contestation, and Competitiveness in the New Space Era
Existing treaties and laws are not sufficient to govern space given the dramatic growth in space activity. Ensuring a safe, secure, and prosperous space for all nations may require the application of social contract theory to space governance.
Feb 15, 2022
Commentary
U.S. Military May Need to Invest More in Arctic Capabilities
Operating in the Arctic is inherently expensive. Despite this, it could be critical that the United States make the necessary investments to ensure a robust ability to operate in the Arctic to withstand Russian challenges there.
Feb 10, 2022
Blog
NATO's Open-Door Policy, U.S. Health Care Payments, Climate Migrants: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on NATO’s open-door policy, U.S. health care payments, supporting climate migrants, and more.
Feb 4, 2022
Commentary
Should NATO Close Its Doors?
In their current confrontation with Russia, the United States and its allies are defending a dangerously anachronistic principle: that all of Russia's European neighbors should be free to seek NATO membership and that NATO should be free to incorporate them. But maintaining this open-ended process of NATO expansion is likely to produce further conflicts.
Feb 2, 2022
Journal Article
NATO From Liaison to Enlargement: A Perspective from the State Department and the National Security Council 1990–1999
This chapter examines the internal U.S. government debate on NATO's transformation and enlargement and how these initiatives pursued by the George H.W. Bush and Clinton Administrations shaped a new post-Cold War security order in Europe.
Feb 2, 2022
Journal Article
Sustaining the Promise of Mainz
This chapter reviews way to revitalize elements of President George H.W. Bush's vision of Europe whole, free, and at peace given the unraveling of arms control agreements, the return of armed conflict, and the deterioration of democratic governance and rule of law in several European countries.
Feb 2, 2022
Commentary
Biden's Rhetoric on Ukraine Has Been Quite Moderate. Here's What That Means
President Biden's public statements since December have focused on how further Russian invasion of Ukraine would result in material consequences. His rhetorical restraint may have important implications for the current conflict.
Jan 18, 2022
Blog
Geoengineering, the Russia-Ukraine Crisis, Biosimilar Drugs: RAND Weekly Recap
This weekly recap focuses on technologies that manipulate the climate, what NATO could do to address the Ukraine-Russia crisis, and cost savings from biosimilar drugs.
Jan 14, 2022
Commentary
Speaking Aloud What NATO Has Left Unsaid Could Help Ease Ukraine-Russia Impasse
A statement that NATO has no intention to offer Ukraine membership at present should only be made in return for a tangible drawdown of Russian forces on the border. It concedes nothing to declare that NATO is not planning to do something it has no intention of doing anyway.
Jan 13, 2022
Commentary
Russia May Underestimate Ukraine and NATO
Moscow has unveiled outlandish security demands that sound aggressive and suggest that it may underestimate both NATO and Ukraine. Kremlin leaders might consider instead seeking a stable European security architecture that protects Russia's interests while also allowing for a vibrant and sovereign Ukraine.
Dec 27, 2021
Commentary
It's Time for the West to Engage with the Taliban
As a winter crisis looms, the Afghan people need support more than ever. Economic collapse and isolation risk provoking deeper instability, insecurity, and repression. The international community should now look seriously at making a deal with the Taliban to address these risks.
Dec 17, 2021

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RAND Topic:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Topic Synonyms:
NATO;
North Atlantic Alliance;
OTAN

Research conducted by

Researcher Spotlight

Anca Ioana Agachi

Defense Policy Analyst

Anca Agachi is a defense policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. Focusing on international security and defense issues, her research interests include transatlantic security, especially NATO's adaptation and transformation; the impact of emerging threats, particularly emerging technologies, on…
Stephen J. Flanagan

Adjunct Senior Fellow

Stephen J. Flanagan is an adjunct senior fellow at the RAND Corporation. He served in several senior positions in government, most recently as special assistant to the president and senior director for defense policy and strategy at the National Security Council (NSC) from 2013 to 2015. Between…

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