The NATO headquarters is located since 1966 in Brussels and his military commander ( SACEUR ) at Mons ( Belgium ). Five European nations (the Austria , the Finland , the Irish , the Sweden and Switzerland ) are not part of NATO because they say they are militarily neutral.

Genesis (1948-1949)

NATO seems to have arisen first an inability of the United Nations to ensure world peace, blocked by Soviet vetoes multiples. To achieve the peace that would allow Alliance, Westerners who fear another veto, find a parade by having recourse to Article 51 of the UN Charter. Indeed, as stated in Article 5, in the framework of collective self-defense an association of nations does not need authorization from the Security Council to see the day.

The Europeans want to ensure their safety, they fear a further rise of Germany and in Eastern threat communist is becoming stronger, especially after the departure of most American-Canadian troops stationed in Europe since the end of the Second World War. The European allies want the United States assistance for their effective defense.

But the United States wants the Europeans initially realize their own defense, even help them later, fearing that an alliance breaks the movement for unification of Europe. It can be seen elsewhere in the treaty, this desire for Europe to take charge of its defense itself is still present, and Article 3 allows the Americans to help develop Europe's military so that it shall develop its own defense system (a kind of Marshall Plan member). But the changing international situation after the Prague coup of 12 February 1948. Thus, 17 March 1948 is entered into the military alliance's Brussels Treaty which foreshadows the future alliance Atlantic .

After the Berlin blockade , the calls of Europeans are becoming increasingly insistent. A secret deal is made between the Anglo-Saxon to specify the grounds for the Atlantic Alliance.

One last step remains to be overcome: any military alliance of the United States in time of peace is prohibited by their constitution. Senator Vandenberg did vote for the resolution 239 to establish the alliance 11 June 1948. The alliance is constitutional, provided to comply with the UN Charter. On request of the U.S. Senate, is enshrined in the Treaty (Art. 5), the measures to be taken in case of attack on one member should be left sovereign choice of each of the signatory countries. The Senate wanted to preserve the choice of the U.S. Congress to make war or not.

Talks in Washington from July 6 to 9 September 1948 set out the basis of the treaty. This military pact was born from an agreement signed on 4 April 1949 in Washington and is the North Atlantic Treaty , article 5 of the solidarity between its members in case of aggression is crucial point.

This treaty was then ratified by the United States , the Canada , the Belgian , the Danish , the France , the Netherlands , the Iceland , the Italian , the Luxembourg , the Norway , the United Kingdom , countries are all democracies, and Portugal , dictatorship who supported the Allies during the Second World War. They were at that time part of the Free World.

Article 5 of the NATO charter states: "The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all and consequently they agree that if such an attack occurs, each of them (...) assist the Party or Parties so attacked (...) including Missions by the North Atlantic Treaty (1949)

The flag of the Organization of the North Atlantic Treaty floating at a summit in Poland.

With this treaty, the Americans broke with their tradition of isolation and enter into a permanent alliance with Europe. The Europeans have done everything to bring the Americans to participate in their defense and, even if the treaty leaves open in theory, in practice, in case of attack from one member, the United States would no alternatives to go to war.

NATO wants to force a peace, it encourages the cooperation of its members in all areas, economic, social, cultural and not only military (Art. 2). According to Saint-Laurent, "The purpose of the North Atlantic alliance is not merely negative, it would create momentum against the current opposition to communism. "We find, in the preamble, the ideas of liberty, democracy and welfare.

The Soviets opposed the treaty, accusing him of being "an instrument of imperialist America. " The treaty is indeed based on the principles that Americans have tried to impose after the war. Principle of free trade economy from the Bretton Woods institutions (art. 2 of economic cooperation).

The treaty will finally be the element that will actually weld the Western bloc behind the United States, gradually installing some American hegemony. On request of the Americans, NATO is not an opponent in particular. It is not intended to provoke the Soviets.

According to the UN Charter , including Article 51, the alliance countries rely on the decision of the Security Council (Art. 5 and 7) during any dispute resolution. The treaty reaffirms its subordination to the UN and the important role of the latter in international relations (art. ^1).

The expansion during the Cold War (1949-1991)

Pershing 1A missile FKG 2 (Wing-surface missiles) of the German Air Force in 1989. The vectors are national but the nose is so American. All tactical nuclear weapons from the United States fired from launchers and navies were withdrawn from service in 1991 .

Located in London then in Paris from 1952 , the headquarters of the Atlantic Alliance initially occupies temporary quarters at the Palais de Chaillot , before being transferred Porte Dauphine with the inauguration of the "Palais de l'Otan" (now University Paris Dauphine ) in 1959. Meanwhile, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ( SHAPE ) stood at Rocquencourt , at Camp Voluceau, on the present site of INRIA. The United States has many ground forces deployed in Europe throughout the Cold War , the U.S. Seventh Army and USAREUR led forces divided between V Corps and VII Corps , the latter having been deactivated in 1991 after Gulf War. By September 1954, the Pentagon stores nuclear weapons in the United Kingdom, before storing in the whole of Europe in the early 1960s. Several European armies were providing them with nuclear warheads under "dual key" equipped with safety devices and weapons. The nuclear deterrence , based primarily on nuclear weapons the United States based in Western Europe and Turkey is indeed a dominant axis of Atlantic strategy meet the large conventional force of the Eastern bloc.

Meanwhile, the Alliance has spread to other states: it is joined by Greece and Turkey ( 1952 ), the Federal Republic of Germany ( 1955 ), and Spain post- Franco ( 1982 ) although the latter was working previously with NATO, informally.

Map of Ancient NATO bases in France before retiring from the military command in 1966.

After the return to power of Charles de Gaulle , thanks to the crisis of May 1958 , opened a crisis between France and the United States and the United Kingdom on NATO, which culminated in 1966 with announced the withdrawal of France from NATO's integrated command, although according to de Gaulle, the "merits" of the covenant is not changed (see also relations between the U.S. and France ).

On 17 September 1958 , de Gaulle sent a memorandum to U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower and the British Harold Macmillan , in which he called for the establishment of a tripartite directorate of NATO, to put France on an equal footing with its allies, and the extension of areas covered by NATO to include areas of interest for France, especially the French Algeria. Following a refusal of its allies, General launches program to create a French nuclear deterrent force to become independent of its allies. The first French nuclear tests were conducted two years later, at Reggane (Algeria). On 11 March 1959 , France withdrew its Mediterranean fleet from NATO command. In June 1959, de Gaulle opposed the installation of foreign nuclear weapons on French soil. The Pentagon then removed out of France 200 military aircraft, and began gradually to withdraw from the ten U.S. air bases present in France since 1950, withdrawal completed in 1967. Alongside the American withdrawal, the Minister of Defence Gaullist Pierre Messmer took the initiative in the creation in 1960 , the Association of Tiger Squadron, famous NATO Tiger Association , to strengthen relations between NATO units.

Although during the Cuban Missile Crisis (October 1962 ), Paris showed its solidarity with NATO, the Gaullist policy of independence continues. While this crisis, which pushes the world to the brink of nuclear war, leads to relaxation and a balance based on Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD), De Gaulle withdrew the Atlantic fleet and the Channel command of the NATO in 1962. The administration of John F. Kennedy proposed in January 1963 to De Gaulle of France to extend the Nassau agreements signed between the United States and Great Britain, which led it to abandon a nuclear force independent. But, continuing the policy of relative independence with respect to the Atlantic axis, de Gaulle refused this offer on behalf of flexibility between the two superpowers (U.S. and USSR ) in order to conduct its own policy or even possibly sign a separate peace treaty with the Eastern bloc in case of invasion of the FRG , so as not to be embedded in a global war between the NATO forces in Warsaw. In September 1965 , de Gaulle announced at a press conference on withdrawal from the integrated command of NATO later than 1969. This was done in March 1966 , all foreign troops being forced to leave France. The opposition Socialists, meeting in the FGDS (Federation of Democratic and Socialist Left), then filed a motion of censure against the Pompidou government , defended by Guy Mollet . Maurice Faure (the Democratic Assembly ) said so " if each of our allies behave as you do and made decisions that you just declare, that does not mean anything other than the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Europe. "

The headquarters of NATO then left Paris for Brussels in December 1966. The SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) is transferred on 16 October 1967 in Rocquencourt , near Paris, Casteau , near Mons in Belgium , in the premises of a former Belgian military infrastructure. However, France remained a member of the Atlantic Alliance, with its own forces in the FRG. In addition, a series of secret agreements, the Agreements Lemnitzer (en) - Ailleret , signed the year after the Gaullist decision of 1966, detailing how the French armed forces would be reinstated in the integrated command of NATO in case of open conflict between the two blocks .

For Pierre Harmel , Belgian Minister of External Affairs, individual countries of NATO have the right to establish and maintain bilateral contacts with the "other side". Such an approach is not contrary to the loyalty to the Western alliance, which must maintain its military power. The renunciation of the old model of conflict and the belief in a relaxing new elements are sustainable and reflect a growing European consciousness. Approval of the Harmel Report by the Board from NATO in December 1967 is a milestone in relations between East and West. Thus, starting from 1969 , with its policy of rapprochement with East Germany and other satellite states of the Soviet Union, the chancellor of West Germany, Willy Brandt lays the groundwork for standardization that will see the demolition of the Berlin Wall two decades later.

The coming to power of Richard Nixon , invested in January 1969 and the departure of De Gaulle, replaced in June 1969 by Georges Pompidou , changed all that. While Willy Brandt , leader of Ostpolitik , breaking the Hallstein doctrine of non-recognition of the GDR, Nixon initially bypasses the restrictive U.S. legislation in the nuclear before formally opening the path of Franco-American nuclear collaboration. Thus in 1974 the U.S. company Westinghouse sold its license to the a href = "% C3% R A9acteurs_% C3% A0_eau_pressuris% C3% A9e" title = "Pressurized Water Reactors" class = "mw-redirect"> PWR to the French company Framatome. Provided with this license, Paris then began a program of nuclear cooperation with South Africa (construction of the Koeberg plant ). The same year, NATO recognizes the declaration of Ottawa (1974) that the French deterrent and British (the latter being included in the SIOP , Single Integrated Operational Plan, U.S.) strengthened the overall deterrence of the Alliance .

In the 1980s, when Reagan came to power and initiates a political offensive against the USSR ("America is back!" - this is called " Cool War "), the decision to set up missile MGM-31 Pershing and BGM-109G Gryphon to counter the SS-20 Soviet led to the Euro-missiles crisis , which emerged victorious block west with multilateral removal of such equipment in Europe.

Number of armed forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in 1959; tones of blue: Member countries of NATO; Shades of Red: Member countries of the Warsaw Pact; Gray: neutral countries; Green: Non-aligned; Hatch: Allies of the two organizations, but not a member. The number on the Iberian Peninsula comprises U.S. troops stationed in the region and the Portuguese army

Number of armed forces of NATO and the Warsaw Pact in 1973, the figure in Iceland and Spain is the American forces in those countries.

The period of transition after the Cold War (1990-2001)

The end of the Cold War from 1989 (fall of the Berlin Wall ), the disappearance of the USSR and the opponent's "natural" of the Atlantic alliance, the Warsaw Pact , poses very quickly in the U.S. the issue of integration of former Soviet satellites and republics of the Soviet newly independent.

On the other hand, the Gulf War is concomitant Franco-American. President Francois Mitterrand begins secret negotiations, led by Gabriel Robin, with NATO . These last four months, in autumn 1990 . Robin argues for transforming SHAPE to bring it into "pilot in time of peace" . These negotiations fail, however: according to Robin, Mitterrand and Foreign Minister Roland Dumas "were more interested in the European defense identity as the reform of the Covenant " . According to the secretary general of the Elysee Palace at the time, Hubert Vedrine , it was only pragmatic discussions, not in any way alter the French position vis--vis the United States . France participates nevertheless the first time an operation of NATO during the Bosnian war in 1993 the French army is involved, the rapprochement with the Command of NATO is inevitable, France to participate in the operations planning .

The armies of the Eastern European countries are inherited from the Soviet system. They usually have a plethora of often inappropriate material, only 10% is compatible with NATO standards (Serge Enderlin .

We see from this period a rapid decline of the military members of NATO from 5.776 million soldiers in 1990, 4,508,000 in 2000 to 3,591,000 in 2008 despite the influx of new members since 1999 a withdrawal from almost all foreign combat forces from Germany and a decline in defense spending in proportion to GDP, it rises from an average of 4.5% of GDP in constant prices in the 1980s to 2.6% in 2008 .

The Belgian army , for example, from 106 000 men in 1990 to 35,668 at 1 January 2010 , and the Royal Navy which in 1989 accounted for 589,000 tons, including 153 warships, each with a tonnage greater than ton in 2000 had fallen to 1 January 2006 to 470,500 tons (the bulk of the tonnage being provided by support vessels), of which only 63 warships offshore

In 1995 , President Jacques Chirac launched negotiations for the reintegration of France to NATO's integrated command. The previous year, and as part of the war in former Yugoslavia , France had participated in the NATO Military Committee; it fully reinstated in 1996 . Chirac negotiations fail, however, Washington refused to give the southern command of NATO in Naples , France . This is the beginning of an evolution of French policy inherited from the Gaullist.

March 12, 1999 , turning back on promises made during the German reunification, NATO integrates Hungary , the Poland and the Czech Republic , so three former satellites of the USSR, while the nine candidate . This integration was popular, experienced primarily as the guarantee of full independence future ^{The new NATO against the dangers of an unstable world (after 2001)}

The member countries of NATO and its expansion since 1949.

Nato creates rapid reaction force at the Prague summit in November 2002 , while a television channel ( NATO TV Channel ) was created in 2008. In December, the European Union (EU) signed a partnership with NATO policy, the European Security and Defence Identity (ESDI). At the same time, NATO is preparing its concomitant with the enlargement of the EU itself. Thus, 29 March 2004 , seven new countries (the Estonia , the Latvian , the Lithuanian , the Bulgaria , the Romania , the Slovak Republic and Slovenia ) joined the organization, bringing to 26 the number of members. These are very powerful military States, but three of them, including the Baltics , were former Soviet republics at the time of the Cold War, and other satellites of Soviet power, Slovenia excepted. These states should reform their military organization in depth, to accept NATO standards, develop the "political-military capabilities in order to respond to crises and conflicts different from a conventional armed attack." (Lieutenant-Colonel Francisco Stoicafnec)

Following the color revolutions that occurred in Georgia ( Rose Revolution ) and in Ukraine ( Orange Revolution ), two other former Soviet states have expressed their desire to join the alliance, also joined in this by Moldova This was refused by the Atlantic alliance at a summit in Bucharest in 2008.

However, some opposition to NATO remains within populations (anti-NATO protests in Crimea , for example). The strong Russian-speaking minorities will condemn alleged essential to control the new Russian power, whose economic growth rate allows some modernization of armies. As part of the American quagmire in Iraq , and NATO's difficulties in Afghanistan , strategic developments seem to materialize. Finally, Russia is opposed strongly, considering itself particularly threatened by the proposed missile defense system set up by the United States. It expresses its displeasure by suspending the 12 December 2007 applying the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), while George W. Bush denounced the ABM Treaty in June 2002. The possible accession of Georgia (and the Ukraine ) to NATO played a role in the Second War in South Ossetia (2008).

Also in 2004 a hundred French soldiers joined the supreme commanders in Mons (Belgium) and Norfolk (USA) . France participates in all operations when NATO ( Kosovo in 1999 and Afghanistan ). It is even the 4 ^th contributor to NATO in terms of forces .

The heads of state at the NATO summit of 2009.

On ¹ April 2009, just before the ^24th NATO summit in Strasbourg and Kehl (Baden-Baden as well), which celebrates ^the 60th anniversary of NATO and saw large demonstrations and anti-capitalist anti-military The spokesman for NATO announces the accession of Albania and Croatia, bringing the number of member states to 28. At the same time, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced the return of France to the integrated command of NATO : the return is accompanied by the attribution to a French general officer of a major military command of NATO , but France does not include the Nuclear Planning Committee.

Structure of Political and Military Command

Command Policy

• The North Atlantic Council is the principal organ of decision.

It is composed of permanent representatives of Member States (with rank of Ambassador), meets at least once a week under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of NATO. It takes its decisions unanimously. Permanent representatives acting on instructions from their country, and report to national authorities of the positions of other governments.

Conjunction with meetings of Permanent Representatives, Ministers of Foreign Affairs and of Defence meet twice a year.

Finally, very rarely meet the prime ministers and / or heads of state of member countries.

The status and degree of importance of the decisions of the Council of the North Atlantic are the same whether taken at the level of Permanent Representatives, Ministers or Heads of State or Government.

• Several committees established by the Council, are responsible for specific areas:
  • Defence Planning Committee: Planning for collective defense;
  • Nuclear Planning Group: policy issues related to nuclear forces;
  • Military Committee recommends to the political authorities of NATO measures deemed necessary for the common defense and provides guidance on military matters;
  • NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
• The International Staff and International Military Staff are assisting the council and committees.

The secretaries general of NATO :

1. Lionel Hastings Ismay and Lord Ismay ( United Kingdom ): from 4 April 1952 to 16 May 1957.
2. Paul-Henri Spaak ( Belgium ): from 16 May 1957 to 21 April 1961.
3. Dirk Stikker ( Netherlands ): from 21 April 1961 in Model: Date.
4. Manlio Brosio ( Italy ): from ¹ August 1964 to October ^1, 1971.
5. Joseph Luns ( Netherlands ): from ¹ October 1971 to 25 June 1984.
6. Peter Carington ( UK ): from 25 June 1984 to ¹ July 1988.
7. Manfred Wrner ( Germany ): from ¹ July 1988 to 13 August 1994.

   Sergio Balanzino ( Italy ) will support the secretary general for two months, the death of Manfred Woerner in August 1994.

8. Willy Claes ( Belgium ): from 17 October 1994 to 20 October 1995.
9. Javier Solana ( Spain ): from 5 December 1995 to 6 October 1999.
10. George Robertson ( United Kingdom ): from 14 October 1999 to ¹ January 2004.
11. Jaap de Hoop Scheffer ( Netherlands ): From ¹ January 2004 to 31 July 2009.
12. Anders Fogh Rasmussen ( Denmark ) elected on 4 April 2009 at the NATO summit in Strasbourg-Kehl 2009 ; in office as of ¹ August 2009.

The Military Command

One of 18 E-3 AWACS NATO.

NATO Boeing CT-49A Trainer / Cargo Aircraft (LX-N20000, Boeing 707-307C, formerly Deutsche Luftwaffe 10 04)

Previously, the military command structure based on geographical divisions: one for Europe (Allied Command Europe), one for the Atlantic (Allied Command Atlantic); thirteen headquarters were subject to these commandments.

• Since 2003, the entire business function is concentrated in a single command: Allied Command Operations (Allied Command for Operations - CCO), more commonly known as Shape ( Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers in Europe , Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) based in Mons , Belgium and there are only six subordinate headquarters.

  Allied Command Operations directs three Joint Staff based in Brunssum (Netherlands), in Oeiras in the suburbs of Lisbon (Portugal) and Naples (Italy) and 6 staffs component (air, land, sea ):

  • staffs air: Izmir (Turkey) and Ramstein (Germany);
  • Staffs earth: Heidelberg (Germany) and Madrid (Spain);
  • Staffs sea: Northwood (United Kingdom) and Naples (Italy).
• As for the Allied Command Transformation (ACT Allied Command Transformation ) based at Naval Station Norfolk ( Virginia , USA ), he replaced the Allied Command Atlantic and for leading efforts to adapt military forces Alliance for a rapidly changing environment.

The two commandments COA (aka Shape) and ACT are both attached to the Military Committee (MC) of NATO.

Other Actors

The permanent structure of NATO (as opposed to ad hoc means provided by the United Nations as part of operations such as ISAF in Afghanistan for example) in 2010 includes 14 branches and about 400 committees (political, financial, technical) which are dedicated to the support of political and military command of NATO. It was decided in 2010 that the fourteen existing agencies will be grouped into three branches, and some 400 committees organized around which NATO could be reduced to 85. Negotiations on this Story Idea should be completed in June 2011 :

• The International Secretariat of NATO responsible for the successful completion of the work to NATO;
• the NC3A (NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency) responsible for the acquisition of CIS resources (information systems and communications);
• the NCSA (NATO CIS Service Agency, CIS Services Agency NATO) which handles the deployment and support of CIS systems;
• the NACMA (NATO Air Command and Control System Management Agency)
• the NAMSA (NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency, Agency for maintenance and supply of NATO), which handles support means NATO deployed;
• the CEPMA (Central Europe Pipeline Management Agency, Agency Management Pipeline in Central Europe) which is the "fuel service 'of Nato;
• the CNAD (Conference of National Armament Directors, Conference of National Armaments Directors) is responsible for managing programs such as DAT (Defence anti-terrorism) or BMD (ballistic missile defense);
• the RTA (Research and Technology Agency, Research and Technology Agency) responsible for leading technological research to NATO;
• the NSA (NATO Standardization Agency, Agency for Standardization NATO) responsible for leading the standardization activity in NATO;
• the NURC (NATO Undersea Research Center, Center for Underwater Research NATO) which is located in La Spezia (Italy), which conducts research in the fight under the sea;
• the NATO Defense College in Rome is one of the most prestigious military universities in Europe;
• etc..

The permanent support structure employs approximately 10,000 people, civilians or military.

The military apparatus

Budget

The overall budget of NATO reached 1876 million euros in 2007 :

• the civil budget (186 million );
• military budget operation (1690 million ).

The top five contributors are, in descending order of financial participation (percentage in 2007) :

• United States : 25.9%
• Germany : 19.2%
• UK : 11.2%
• Italy : 7.7%
• France : 7.5%; its theoretical share in the NATO budget is about 13%, but France, under its special position in NATO, has a derogation from "funding map" c ' is to say that it can choose on a case by case operations (military budget) or programs (NSIP budget) it funds and in return, the French manufacturers are not only candidates that NATO tenders France finances. ^{Ground forces}
  This section is blank, incomplete or not detailed enough. Your help is welcome!
  

  

  Area of responsibility Army Corps of NATO in West Germany
  • Organization

  The main front was located for the 2 alliances in central Europe. To protect West Germany , two army groups , the NORTHAG and CENTAG comprising, after the withdrawal of the French army's central command, a total of 8 Corps (three Germans, two Americans, one British, one Belgian, one Dutch) were in charge of the eastern borders.

  • United States.
  

  

  Formations of ^the 7th U.S. Army in West Germany in 1987:
  * ^1st Armored Division
  * 2nd Armored Division
  * 3rd Armored Division
  * 1st Infantry Division
  * ^3rd Infantry Division
  * 8th Infantry Division
  * img alt = "U.S. 2nd Cavalry Regiment SSI.jpg" src = "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/US_2nd_Cavalry_Regiment_SSI.jpg/20px-US_2nd_Cavalry_Regiment_SSI.jpg" width = "20" height = "20" /> 2nd Cavalry Regiment Armoured
  * 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
  * Berlin Brigade

  The United States has many ground forces deployed in Europe since the Second World War. Throughout the duration of the Cold War, the ^7th Army or USAREUR led forces divided between V Corps and VII Corps , the latter having been deactivated in 1991 after the Gulf War.

  These forces are based almost entirely in Germany. It is primarily the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored Division, based respectively in Wrzburg and Wiesbaden , ^the 7th Army is based in Heidelberg as the V Corps.

  In 2002 it was decided the foundation of CBRN (chemical defense battalion, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) and a laboratory analysis of NBC (nuclear, bacteriological and chemical) field deployable.

  • United Kingdom.
  Main article: British Army of the Rhine.

  Units in own

  In 2009, NATO, among others, by hand, the NATO Airborne Early Warning NATO ( NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEWF / NAEWF) created in 1982 to 3,000 civilians and military people comprising 17 AWACS Boeing E-3 Sentry (18 originally, one lost) and 3 Boeing 707 -based Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany and the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW ) founded in 2009 for strategic airlift, which has three McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III on Ppa airbase in Hungary.

  The air infrastructure

  

  

  Air force planes from NATO to the control tower at Bitburg Air Base in West Germany in 1959: From left to right, the nose of a Canadair Sabre Canada, an F-84F Thunderstreak the Luftwaffe West German, a North American F-86K Sabre of Koninklijke Luchtmacht Dutch, a Dassault Mystere IV of the French Air Force , a Hawker Hunter of the British Royal Air Force, an Avro CF-100 Canuck of the Royal Canadian Air Force , a North American F-100C Super Sabre 36th Tactical Fighter Wing, the USAF 22nd TFS and the background is a Douglas C-47 Skytrain.

  In 1951, NATO had at its disposal an insignificant number of airfields that can implement the new generations of jets, so she launched a massive effort in this area and 220 air bases were created or developed in Europe for 448 million pounds sterling (1969 value) .

  The United States Air Forces in Europe which had its headquarters in Wiesbaden , Germany since 1945 , had in 1950 , four squadrons deployed in the United Kingdom, three in West Germany and six in France, 18 000 people and 800 aircraft of all types.

  The United States, engaged heavily in the Korean War from June 1950 were unable to perform as expected they are installed in Europe. Therefore, Canada had overcome this problem. It was therefore decided to create a Canadian air force performance, reserved to Europe, which consisted of four wings of three squadrons (equipped with the new North American F-86 Sabre ) each. 1 (F) Wing (Wing) was implanted in Marville , the 2 (F) Grostenquin (both France), 3 (F) Zweibrcken and 4 (F) at Baden-Sllingen (both in Germany West).

  The Iceland is the only NATO member that does not have its own military force (the defense was initially provided by the United States through the base of Keflavik ) currently provide various European nations in turn permanence of air defense in Iceland . It was accepted without obligation to establish its contribution to the Alliance is doing in other forms (military bases and financial contributions for the most part).

  The naval bases

  The United States has deployed two major naval commands after the Second World War. This is the command of Naval Forces in Europe ( USNAVEUR ), body Naval European Command U.S. armed forces ( USEUCOM ), and the American Sixth Fleet deployed permanently in the Mediterranean since 1947 against the Communist guerrillas in Greece and Turkey.

  This has given U.S. naval facilities in Europe, mainly in the Mediterranean:

  • Northwood ( England , United Kingdom ): the headquarters of Naval Forces in Europe;
  • Naples ( Italy ): the headquarters of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and frequent point of call;
  • Holy Loch ( Scotland , United Kingdom ): a base for submarines during the Cold War, now closed;
  • La Maddalena ( Sardinia , Italy ): another submarine base, now closed;
  • Rota ( Spain ): a naval air base, near the Strait of Gibraltar;
  • Sigonella ( Sicily , Italy ): another air base facing the narrowest point of the Mediterranean : the crossing between Libya and Sicily ;
  • Gaeta ( Italy ): a naval base.

  List of military operations

  

  

  NATO medal for personnel who served in former Yugoslavia.
  • Adriatic (1992-1996): NATO engaged in a maritime surveillance operation called Operation Sharp Guard , designed to monitor the arms embargo the UN imposed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
  • Bosnia-Herzegovina (1995-2004): bombing campaign to halt the conflict and first mission of peacekeeping. It was an opportunity for the Czechs and Poles to participate in IFOR and draw valuable experience, especially at the interconnection of hosts. The IFOR and the SFOR (Stabilization Force) NATO has passed the baton to the EUFOR of the European Union on 2 December 2004 : it is the operation Althea involving 7,000 men under the Berlin agreements more.
  • Albania (April-August 1999): 7000 soldiers are deployed for a humanitarian operation to help refugees to Kosovo from Albania after the outbreak of war on their territory.
  • Kosovo (1999 -...): after an air campaign during the Kosovo war , the Operation Allied Force , the multinational peace force for NATO in Kosovo ( KFOR ) deployed with 43,000 men. On December 7, 2004, it represents 17,733 people.
  • Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (2001-2003): the force of peacekeeping, tasked with disarmament, protection of civilian observers, stabilization and securing the country. The European Union takes over 31 March 2003 : it is the operation Concordia organized under the Berlin Plus agreements.
  • Active Endeavour (2001 -...): maritime interdiction operation following the attacks of September 11, 2001. The Standing Naval Force Mediterranean Sea (STANAVFORMED) is deployed to participate in the fight against terrorism. She has particular aircraft AWACS. 1200 Military affected.
  • Afghanistan (2003 -...): August 11, 2003, NATO took command of the NATO International Security Assistance Force (ISAF or ISAF) is the first intervention by NATO outside the Euro-Atlantic ; contribute 37 countries and it is working to extend the authority of central government and facilitate reconstruction. Y is this a force of 45,000 men in 2008.
  • Iraq (2003-2010): provides logistical support to the multinational division and participates in the training of Iraqi security forces with 300 people, including on-site instructors and schools in NATO.
  • In June 2006, the defense ministers of NATO meeting in Brussels, decided to double the size of ISAF, the NATO International Security Assistance deployed in Afghanistan , currently 9,000 strong men.

  The strategies of the new alliance

  

  

  NATO summit in Prague (2002).

  The Alliance today has little to do with the Cold War. ( Jaap de Hoop Scheffer , 2006)

  Let's be clear: there can be no question of playing "world policeman". The Alliance has neither the means nor the political will. (Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, 2006)

  In the multipolar world now, the role and missions of NATO are difficult to interpret. So they come out of the traditional Euro-Atlantic space. However, NATO is not intended to replace the United Nations and its structural inability to compensate. This is not a new form of troops peacekeepers. The strategies of the new NATO have been developed from the late 1990s, and developed after the attacks of September 11, 2001 on the United States:

  • Washington Summit (1999): initiation of a process of turning around a NATO strategic concept directed towards crisis management.
  • Prague Summit (November 2002): decision of the adaptation of the military machine to the new international situation, the concept of rapid response.
  • Berlin Plus agreement (March 2003): The European Union may appeal to some NATO assets when they are needed to achieve the missions mandated by the Council of the Union.

  The Defence Planning Committee decided in 2006 that NATO would be prepared to conduct two large-scale operations mobilizing 60,000 men each and six medium-sized operations (30 000 men). A total of up to 300,000 men trained and prepared will be available to respond anywhere in the world to keep the peace. NATO in 2008 is far from holding these goals if one refers to chronic difficulties of ISAF to secure the necessary means to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan (according to the criteria considered NATO as a transaction medium-sized ).

  The allies pledged to spend on their defense at least 2% of their GDP to achieve a figure that only seven of twenty-six allies (including the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Turkey) reach to achieve.

  In 2010 , it expects an overhaul of NATO structures with a sharp decline in enrollment from 17,000 before 2009, fewer than 13,000 in 2010 and options for the future from 9 500 to 7,500 soldiers assigned to this organization .

  Partnership for Peace

  The Partnership for Peace or PPP : NATO has signed numerous cooperation agreements with most European states and all non-member countries of the CIS. These are bilateral agreements and extremely flexible: each State desiring to participate in partnership decides, in consultation with Member States, the level of cooperation he wants to undertake with NATO. The primary objective is to maintain information exchange with the old member states of the USSR.

  The acceding countries in PfP are:

  Armenia Azerbaijan Austria Belorussia Bosnia-Herzegovina Finland Georgia

  Ireland Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Uzbekistan

  Russia Serbia Sweden Switzerland Ukraine Tajikistan Turkmenistan

  The only European states that are not part of the PPP, in addition to micro-states ( Andorra , Liechtenstein , Monaco , San Marino and Vatican ), are Cyprus and Malta. Other partnerships generally looser, exist: it is the case for the Mediterranean Dialogue , which brings together Mauritania , on Morocco , the Algeria , of Tunisia and Egypt.

  "It is understood that each state holds above all effective oversight of its territory. As such, each state has its own geopolitical specificity. For example, Romania is a bridge between Central Europe and Southeast Europe. As such, it fights against trafficking in narcotics, organized crime , the risk of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction , even reduced its fleet is modernized and contributes to the monitoring of Black Sea and near the Dardanelles , the forces Romanian river involved in securing the Danube in agreement with other riparian states. "(Stoica Lieutenant Colonel Francisco)

  "NATO does play the role of de facto international police force in the territories it occupies? The question is actually more even if it is not its function. For example, the question arose as to the common struggle between Nato and Afghan national forces , against drug production. The role of NATO is limited to support the Afghan government. "(Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, 2006)

  The Plan of Action for membership

  The candidate countries participating in the NATO action plan for membership to help them move forward in the process leading to a future formal membership. These states have in fact need to fundamentally reform their armed forces, and even a certain conception of the defense:

  • sustainable maintenance of peaceful relations with neighboring countries;
  • Insurance inner peace by preparing a legal framework for ethnic minorities, if any;
  • the chief command of the army should be in the hands of a civilian: the demilitarization of the army that puts an end to totalitarian legacy;
  • generalization of the English language;
  • structural reality of economic growth.

  Participating countries: countries that joined in June 2004 (see above) were part of this program and the candidate countries (2008):

  • Macedonia

  Candidate countries in the Plan of Action for membership:

  • Ukraine (renounced his membership on 3 June 2010 )
  • Georgia

  References

  1. (en) Nato: reduced staff by one third? , May 11, 2010, Le Figaro
  2. original quote: "Keep the Russians out, the American in, & the Germans down."
  3. NATO against the Iron Curtain, Le Monde, 21 July 2009, page 3
  4. Text of the North Atlantic Treaty
  5. (en) Eli Corin, " Presidential Nuclear Initiatives: An Alternative Paradigm for Arms Control "in Nuclear Threat Initiative , James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, March 2004. Accessed August 20, 2009
  6. ^{a and b} National Assembly: the censorship debate , ORTF - 19/04/1966 - 00 h 20 m 51 s (on the archives of the INA )
  7. Edward Cody, After 43 Years, France to rejoin NATO as Full Member , Washington Post , March 12, 2009, p. A08
  8. (en) Declaration on Atlantic Relations issued by the North Atlantic Council (Ottawa Declaration), June 19, 1974
  9. (en) See also

     Related articles

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     • (In) "NATO: the Imperial Pitbull" by Edward Herman , 23 January 2009
     • Category Treaty Organisation North Atlantic directory dmoz

     Bibliography

     • Anne Henry of Russian Strategic Focus No. 22, June 2010: France in NATO. The French military culture and strategic identity in question.
     • Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (interview: Claudie Baran), "The Alliance is not the policeman of the world," Le Figaro Magazine, October 14, 2006, p.30.
     • Zorgbibe Charles, History of NATO, Editions Complexe, 2002 ( ISBN 2870279175 )
     • Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Stoica, "The reform of the Romanian Army," Army of Today, No. 273, September 2002, pp.25-28.
     • Jerzy Baczynski, "To join the Alliance, Poland began to English," Polityka. Translation in Courrier International, No. 311, 17-23 October 1996, p. 14.
     • Serge Enderlin , "Armies of the East: the long march toward NATO," L'Hebdo. Translation in Courrier International, No. 311, 17-23 October 1996, p. 14.
     • "Security through Science", interview with Jean Fournet, Assistant Secretary General of NATO, by Maria Corrado Daclon , Analisi Difesa, January 2004, n. 42.
     • "The adequacy of the strategic goals of NATO's" White Paper on Defence and National Security (Eng.) "" file prepared by ALPHA - Foundation for Strategic Studies, based in Brussels. Restricted, in March 2008.
     • Lothar Schrter: Die NATO Kalten im Krieg. Band I 1949-1975 ", Berlin 2009," Die NATO Kalten im Krieg. Band II 1976-1991 ", Berlin 2009, S. 1196 ISBN 978-3-89706-915-2

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