Conclusion: Deterrence, Defence and Dialogue

Abstract

Transatlantic Unity NATO, the most successful military alliance in recent history, can only succeed if it appreciates and, to the extent possible, responds to the concerns of all its members. The principle of solidarity lies at the heart of NATO’s founding treaty. As enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, it remains the enduring principle that binds NATO’s members together, committing them to protect and help each other. At the Brussels Summit in July 2018, all 29 members re-emphasised this unwavering responsibility: ‘Any attack against one Ally will be regarded as an attack against us all’. That principle of solidarity also requires each member to take primary responsibility for its own territorial integrity and the security of its immediate region; Article 3 states that allies ‘will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack’. Article 3 underscores the principle of fair burden-sharing; investment in national defence is the basis for Article 5. This Whitehall Paper has focused on NATO’s northern region, arguing that Russia’s military build-up constitutes the most important politico-military challenge to the defence of Europe today and in the foreseeable future. Russia’s new order of battle – augmented by high commands optimised for short-notice readiness and prompt mobilisation – manifests itself in a theatre-scale warfare posture and an anti-access strategy that enables Russia to strike any location in Europe and project force far into the North Atlantic with precision and lethality. The authors of the chapters comprising this volume argue that Northern Europe can contain and counter Russia if the region stands together with its North American allies