Context

NATO recently marked its 75th anniversary amidst disagreement over the next leader of the military alliance. 

About NATO Summit

• NATO Summit: The US will host a summit of all NATO leaders in Washington, where the founding treaty was signed. 
• Widening Gulf: The dispute deepens the divide that was created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by setting early members against those who joined after the Cold War.
• Debate for Succession: NATO leaders aimed to address the succession of current Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, whose term concludes on September 30, during this week’s discussions.
  • Stoltenberg, a former Prime Minister of Norway, has led the alliance since 2014, with his initial four-year term extended four times.
• Obstruction in Consensus-Based Decision-Making: Debates regarding the next NATO leader underscore a notable aspect of the organization, which has served as both an asset and a liability.
• It has very few written rules and operates by consensus, usually meaning unanimous decisions.This has often provided flexibility, but occasionally allowed one member to block action.

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

• About: It is a transatlantic security alliance composed of thirty-one member countries.
• Establishment: It was established in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, also called the Washington Treaty.
• Recent Members: Most recent additions were North Macedonia in 2020 and Finland in 2023 and Sweden in 2024.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.

Objectives:  

• Cooperation: To provide a unique link between these transatlantic countries, enabling them to consult and cooperate on political and military issues.
• Limiting threat: To counter the threat of erstwhile Soviet Union’s possible expansion attempts in Europe.

Underlying Principle: 

• Principle of Collective Defence: NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. 
• Membership Criteria: NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.”