Making NATO Great Again

• Philip T. Reeker, Acting Assistant Secretary of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State
• Martin Povejšil, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic
• Bastian Giegerich, Director of Defense and Military Analysis for the International Institute for Strategic Studies in the United Kingdom
• Peter Doran, President, and CEO of the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, DC

Moderation: Martin Michelot, Deputy Director, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy

Transatlantic unity seems to be, in 2019, a currency that has become increasingly rare, and NATO may be suffering the brunt of this crisis. Tensions have arisen from the decision of the US to withdraw its troops from Syria, creating an uncertain situation with Turkey in which NATO may be involved, willingly or not. Continuing discussions about burden-sharing and the common funding of NATO, and the feeling that the US may use NATO to undermine EU defense cooperation has also contributed to a low level of unity within the Alliance. What are the steps that Allies should take to bolster unity in the foreseeable future? Sharing priorities on China seems obvious, but Allies still need to agree upon the steps to take to address the competition with China. Continuing to bolster territorial defense remains a well-rooted priority that should not suffer from the current tensions, but could its primacy in the NATO agenda eventually be questioned? The period before the summit planned for London at the end of the year may, therefore,   prove to be decisive for the Alliance, where drawing up an agenda of positive cooperation will prove to be a challenge.

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