The Preparation of NATO's New Strategic Concept

Abstract:

The article deals with the Declaration on Alliance Security issued in Strasbourg on 4 April 2009. The author enumerates its main items: reform of NATO structures, improving ability to meet the security challenges, strengthening cooperation with other international actors. Today we are facing global threats, such as terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; our security is increasingly tied to that of other regions. Deterrence, based on an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional capabilities, remains a core element of Alliance overall strategy. NATO will continue to play its part in reinforcing arms control and promoting nuclear and conventional disarmament in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, as well as non-proliferation efforts. The author is a strong supporter of Obama's idea of world without nuclear weapons; he hopes that this notion will be also reflected in preparing NATO strategic concept. They are also further points to be stressed, e.g., a cooperative partnership between NATO and Russia.

JUDr. Miroslav Tůma, Col. (Ret.), born in 1937, Military Signals School (SU); Faculty of Law, Charles University Prague. He served in various command and staff assignments at the General Staff and the Defence Ministry. In the years 1989-1992 he participated in peace and humanitarian operations, under the auspices of the UN, in Angola (UNAVEM) and Iraq (UNGCI). On leaving the army in December 1992, he became an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MZV) of the Czech Republic. When the Czech Republic was a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, from January 1994 till February 1995, he worked with the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic to the UN in New York. After his return, he worked at a United Nations Branch and later at the Branch of International Organizations, MFA, in the position of deputy director for peace operations and disarmament. In 2001 he finished his work for the MZV and became an old-age pensioner. He is a part-time worker for the Institute of International Relations (ÚMV) Prague.

Country: Czech Republic

25/01/2010

Leave a comment