Challenges, Capability and Will: Is NATO Relevant in the Twenty-first Century

: Since the end of the Cold War NATO has struggled to maintain a raison d'tre for its continued existence and relevance. In the 1990s NATO expanded both its membership and the scope of its operations beyond collective defense. After the terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001, NATO invoked Article Five for the first time. This further expanded NATO operations in location and scope. Now that Russian aggression is threatening the stability of Europe, NATO finds itself in a position to demonstrate its resolve against its former Cold War adversary once again as we move forward into the future. This monograph examines the relevance of NATO in the twenty-first century, particularly from a perspective of US interests within a framework of contemporary history.