NORTH ATLANTIC

TREATY ORGANIZATION

PSCM 3242: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Prepared by: Martin O. Escobido, Jr.
THE COLD WAR (1945-1991)
An Ideological Struggle

The Cold War was a period of East-West

competition, tension, and conflict short of
full-scale war, characterized by mutual
perceptions of hostile intention between
military-political alliances or blocs.

There were real wars, sometimes called

"proxy wars" because they were fought by
Soviet allies rather than the USSR itself -
along with competition for influence in the
Third World, and a major superpower arms
race.
 Some of the dramatic ideas and events that occurred after World War II
WHAT WAS NATO AND WHY IT WAS SET UP?
that set the stage for the formation of the NATO alliance in 1949.

The Truman The Marshall ‘Iron Curtain’ The Berlin

Doctrine
The Truman Doctrine (1947) was
proposed by President Harry
Truman after World War II to
prevent communism from
spreading to Greece and Turkey.
The doctrine gave
financial support ($400 million)
to both countries in order to
reduce the threat of
communist insurrection
Plan
The Marshall Plan (1947) was
approved by the U.S. Congress
and allotted $7 billion to the
nations of Western Europe in an
effort to prevent the rise of
communist parties there. The
Marshall Plan helped establish
close ties between Western
Europe and the United States.
Speech
British prime minister Winston
Churchill's “Iron Curtain” speech
(1946) illustrated the political and
economic division within Europe
at that time. Following World
War II, In his speech, Churchill
described the conflict this way:
“From Stettin in the Baltic to
Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron
curtain has descended across
the Continent.” Churchill was
outlining the ideological conflict
between Soviet Communism
and democratic capitalism.
Airlift
The Berlin airlift (1948) was a
response to a Soviet attempt to
cut off all supplies to democratic
West Berlin. The Allies responded
with 321 days of air support to the
people of West Berlin, flying in
food and medicine in spite of the
Soviet land blockade.
WHAT WAS NATO AND WHY IT WAS SET UP?

By the end of the 1940s, many Westerners were beginning to

worry about the large armies which Russia had stationed in
Eastern Europe.

The USA used this fear to set up an alliance to defend

the Western world.

US officials called NATO an “antidote to fear”.

NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY (NATO)
Formed in 1949 as a military or defense
alliance by 10 countries in Western Europe,
the United States, and Canada
Original purpose – to protect its members
from a possible attack from the Soviet Union
(Containment)
First peacetime alliance in U.S. history
outside the Western Hemisphere
An alliance of nations with shared values. All
members are DEMOCRACIES
Has been the most important U.S. alliance
for the past (almost) 60 years
Original Members added Post-Cold War
Members during Cold War Members
1949 1952 - 1990 1999 - 2009
Belgium Greece Bulgaria
Denmark Turkey Estonia
France Western Germany Latvia
Iceland Spain Lithuania
Italy Romania
Luxembourg Slovakia
Netherlands Slovenia
Norway Albania
Portugal Croatia
United Kingdom
United States of America 2017 - 2020
Canada Montenegro
North Macedonia
WHAT IS NATO?

“NATO’s fundamental role and enduring purpose is

to safeguard the freedom and security of its
member countries by political and military means.”
As a Political Organization
reinforcing security by reducing the risk of conflict

Dialogue/
Diplomacy
Consensus

Cooperation
As a Military Organization
when diplomatic efforts fail

Crisis Management
Collective Defense
Operations

Maintaining
Adequate Military
Capabilities
The principle of Collective Defense

“The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more

of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an
attack against them all…” Article 5, NATO Treaty

NATO’s essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its

members through political and military means.

1.) If one member is attacked, all other members are expected to respond
2.) Operate when and where necessary to fight terrorism

No NATO member was ever attacked during the

Cold War – it never had to use its military forces.
The first (and only) time a NATO member was attacked was… September 11, 2001.
WHAT DOES NATO DO?

Helps create a stable environment

Welcomes new members

Forges partnerships

Leads crisis management operations

Combats existing and emerging threats

Develop military capabilities

 HOW THE SOVIETS REACTED TO NATO?

In May 1955, West Germany was admitted into NATO.

Worst fears realized – Germany being rebuilt and now part of a military alliance!

West Germany joining NATO now meant that Germany once again had military power.
For the Soviets, who had suffered greatly at the hands of the Germans,
this was too much. The Soviets set up the Warsaw Pact which the
Eastern European countries signed.

It was intended to be a defensive alliance, like NATO, but it

was essentially used to keep control in Eastern Europe.
The Warsaw Pact
Signed in 1955, the Soviet’s response to the
creation of NATO. It was intended to be a
defensive alliance, like NATO, but it was
essentially used to keep control in Eastern
Europe.

This consisted of the Soviet Union and its six

satellite countries in Eastern Europe:
East Germany
Poland
Hungary
Czechoslovakia
Bulgaria
Romania

In the present, the Warsaw Pact no longer

exists.
 COMPARISON OF NATO & WARSAW PACT

United States & Soviet Union &

the Western Eastern Bloc Nations
[“Iron Curtain”] METHODOLOGIES
Democracies
Goal: Containment of communism and Goal: Spread world-wide communism 1. Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]
the eventual collapse of the Communist 2. Arms Race [ Nuclear Escalation]
world. 3. Space Race [Soviets Launch
Communist, state-controlled economy
Capitalist, market-based economy
Sputnik - first satellite launched
dictatorship into space]
democratic republic 4. Ideological Competition for the
closed society
hearts and minds of Third World
open society
Nations [Communist Government
and Command Economy vs.
Democratic Governments and
Capitalism]
5. The Bi-Polarization of Europe
[NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]
Which was the stronger organization?
NATO
NATO had territory separated by
water and land (non-NATO countries
e.g. Switzerland).
NATO was a voluntary alliance of
democratic states.
USA was a major part of NATO, but
each member was involved in
decision making.
NATO had overall military superiority.
WARSAW PACT
Moscow had political domination
over central and Eastern Europe.
The Warsaw Pact countries had
geographic cohesion (was one large
area) and land connections, so it
was easy to transfer forces and
weapons.
The Warsaw Pact very clearly
controlled from Moscow.
KEYPOINTS ABOUT NATO
NATO maintains a military structure to ensure the collective defense of its members. This
includes a standing military command, integrated military units, and joint planning and
coordination.

NATO's role has evolved beyond collective defense. It also engages in crisis management
and conflict prevention, including peacekeeping operations and disaster relief efforts.

In addition to its military function, NATO serves as a political forum for member states to
consult on security issues and coordinate policies. It provides a platform for members to
discuss and address common security challenges

NATO has developed partnerships with various non-member countries and international
organizations to promote stability and security in different regions of the world. These
partnerships help foster cooperation on a wide range of security-related issues.
KEYPOINTS ABOUT NATO

NATO has adapted to changing security environments over the years. It played a crucial
role during the Cold War in deterring Soviet aggression, and since the end of the Cold
War, it has been involved in various operations, including the Balkans, Afghanistan, and
counter-terrorism efforts.

The organization holds regular summits where leaders of member countries come
together to discuss key security issues, make decisions, and set the alliance's strategic
direction.

NATO has played a significant role in maintaining peace and stability in Europe and
beyond since its inception. It remains a critical alliance in addressing contemporary
security challenges and promoting cooperation among its member states and partners.
Reflection: How important were NATO and the
alliances?
1. Were these defensive alliances really needed?

2. What impact did the creation of NATO have on the USSR?

3. Who had most to gain from these alliances?

4. Trump rants about letting Putin attack NATO members who “don’t pay their bills”.

5. NATO was originally conceived to effectively block Soviet expansion. The USSR has long been

dissolved.

6. Russia threatens Ukraine with military and economic sanctions if the latter joins NATO.