The North Atlantic Alliance (NAA) was formed on April 4, 1949. The NAA is an intergovernmental military partnership headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, based on the North Atlantic pact. Under collective defense, member states mutually defend against external attacks (Andreas et al 76).
The NAA's presence in Afghanistan has benefited the Middle East, though some argue it has increased conflict and misunderstanding. NAA operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have enhanced strategic importance in the Persian Gulf (Priest 65). NAA nations recognize instability's dangers and promote stability in Afghanistan and the Gulf. The NAA assists new Iraqi authorities to control defense and security themselves. As a populous state, NAA support has helped Iraq emerge as a regional power (Priest 67).
Iran's ballistic missile and religious extremist capabilities pose a threat. The NAA has not convinced Iran to halt these projects. This failure underpins critiques of the NAA's ineffectiveness in containing dangerous missiles and bombs, jeopardizing Euro-Atlantic security (Andreas et al 86).
The NAA's role in promoting regional stability and addressing Iran's nuclear program is significant. While some critics say the NAA overreaches into politics over peacekeeping, human rights advocates support the alliance's humane approach toward achieving Middle East stability and unity (Priest 69) (Kaplan 125).
Iraqis are rebuilding, but Iranian extremists like Mogtada al-Sadr promote instability and chaos to undermine emerging powers, maligning the NAA as ineffective (Kaplan 125). NAA presence has reduced deaths and boosted economic growth in Afghanistan and the Middle East overall, while curbing property destruction from prolonged regional war and religious conflicts. The NAA has established electoral leadership to replace Shiite infighting in Tehran (Kaplan 127).
The NAA engages influential clerics to limit political clerical power and promote strong nationalism over religious sectarianism. In May 2010, NAA officials and Pakistan's President Zardari and Army Chief discussed Afghan strategy, benefiting citizens through conflict resolution efforts (Priest 75).
Expanded NAA counterterrorism training aims to build mutual benefit and cooperation, including with the U.S. and other continents, to make the NAA a global body countering Middle East terrorists like Osama Bin Laden (Andreas et al 87).
Conclusion
While playing a key role in the Middle East, NAA members should pursue comprehensive solutions for lasting peace (Kaplan 128). Working with U.S. intelligence, the NAA can coordinate policies to dissuade Iran and terrorists from jeopardizing Middle East stability with nuclear and missile programs. Though contributing significantly in Afghanistan and the Gulf, the NAA's primary political purpose is to avoid military complications in stabilizing the region politically and economically.
With its mandate, the NAA can develop a new collective, coordinated regional security mechanism focused on Iraq, Iran and Yemen as the most affected states (Kaplan 130). It should address military issues and promote internal stability and reform in the post-Hussein period. Given the lack of evidence that the NAA has worsened Middle East conflicts, its Afghan presence has been beneficial overall (Andreas et. al. 90).
Works cited:
Priest, Andrew. Kennedy, Johnson and NATO: Britain, America and the dynamics of alliance,
Contemporary security studies. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2006 (2): 65-75.
Kaplan, Lawrence. NATO divided, NATO united: the evolution of an alliance. New York:
Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004 (3): 125-130.
Andreas, Wenger, Christian Nuenlist and Anna Locher. Transforming NATO in the Cold War:
challenges beyond deterrence in the Middle East. New York: Taylor & Francis, 2007 (7):
76-90.
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