Alliances II

 

      Alliances are important because they promote their members’ diplomatic and military effectiveness.  Diplomatic effectiveness is founded upon establishing a degree of mutual trust necessary to accomplish common goals on the international stage.  Military effectiveness is a measure of the application of military means and ways, to achieve the goal of peace, at least a peace that is beneficial to the victor.  A successful alliance promotes mutual security by solidifying diplomatic relationships and aggregating each member’s military effectiveness into a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.  These permit the alliance to better use diplomatic and military power in the service of its strategic objectives.

      The diplomatic value of alliances was most recently illustrated in the multi-state agreement to exchange NATO-nation citizens, including three Americans, with Russians held by NATO countries.  By far the most significant demonstration of trust among allies was Germany’s willingness, despite great reluctance, to release Russian assassin Vadim Krasikov to facilitate the exchange.  Additionally, in answer to an appeal by the United States, other NATO nations agreed to exchange Russian espionage agents to ensure Russia was sufficiently incentivized to conclude the deal.  The mutual support of the various NATO members was instrumental and stemmed from a foundation of mutual trust developed over many years by alliance members.     

      Alliances of democratic nations also promote the practice of lawful, restrained, warfare.  It should be no surprise that the original signatories of the North Atlantic Treaty also led the international effort to define, through the Nuremburg Principles of 1943, and codify, through the Geneva Convention of 1949, International Humanitarian Law (IHL).  As defined by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), IHL is “a set of rules that seeks, for humanitarian reasons, to limit the effects of armed conflict. It protects persons who are not, or are no longer, directly or actively participating in hostilities, and imposes limits on the means and methods of warfare.”

      Authoritarian states such as Russia, which is violating IHL almost daily in Ukraine, have no regard for the law whatsoever.  Most NATO members have codified IHL by statute or regulation and, at least, make an attempt to comply with IHL, thus mitigating the worst consequences of war.

      These are the great strengths of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  For seventy-five years, NATO members have created unmatched diplomatic and military effectiveness while upholding the rule of law.  The alliance has accomplished this by rigorously implementing interoperability by developing common doctrine and tactics and taking every opportunity to practice them on land, at sea and in the air.  Any member state military force can, therefore, integrate with other member states’ forces on virtually a moment’s notice.     This unmatched diplomatic and military capability has promoted peace, prosperity, and the free practice of commerce throughout the NATO region while defending member states from Soviet and Russian tendencies toward aggression.

      Now, in the face of China’s hegemonic strategy in the Western Pacific and South China Sea, the United States is seeking to form an equally strong military relationship with regional states in the Indo-Pacific region to stem the growing power of China just as NATO has done against Russia for three quarters of a century.  This initiative has not started from scratch.  American regional allies, such as Australia, Japan, South Korea, and, to a lesser extent, the Philippines and Taiwan are already fully indoctrinated with NATO doctrine and tactics.  Further, the United States and the United Kingdom have entered into a partnership with Australia to equip the Royal Australian Navy with nuclear powered submarines.  The goal of a strong Indo-Pacific alliance is well on its way to realization.

      Donald Trump understands none of this.  He views NATO as gigantic protection racket in which member states who fail to “pay their dues” will be sacrificed to Russian aggression.  He threw away a promising cooling with North Korea by allowing himself to be duped by Kim-jong-un into thinking that Kim respected him.  Like so many of his relationships, Trump views foreign policy as simplistic and completely transactional.  Trump will continue to undermine our alliances rather than strengthen them.  Turning our foreign policy over to Trump will irreversibly weaken the United States.