The Utility of NATO for the United States
By JOSEPH KIM ‘26
The foreign policy of the United States has long been anchored around The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO, the military alliance between 32 countries in North America and Europe. Recently, some vocal politicians have spoken of “ditching” NATO on the grounds that the alliance no longer advances US geopolitical interests. Popularized by isolationist and nationalist sentiment, this shortsighted idea is built on a widespread mischaracterization of the US role in NATO. I aim to express with brevity one key aspect of foreign policy that discussions with fellow students on campus veer often away from. I believe NATO remains important and beneficial for the United States’ national interests, and a mischaracterization of the effects of NATO harms Americans and all citizens of NATO.
When the 12 original countries founded NATO in 1949, the primary political objective was to form a political bloc against the Soviet Union. A strong and united NATO was essential for US Cold War foreign policy because it ensured a robust Western Europe and effectively prevented communist insurgencies in NATO members unless the Soviet Union was willing to fight a nuclear war. NATO served not only as a deterrent but also as a political unification. NATO members often dropped grudges and rivalries for the sake of unity in the alliance. Member states could rely on each other as fixtures of military support rather than solely relying on their own military capabilities. Thus, NATO served the interests of all members, including the United States, whose objective of creating a bulwark against the Eastern Bloc.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and cordial relations between the Western powers and Yeltsin’s Russia, NATO’s initial purpose became obsolete. However, with the great expansion of the alliance and, in consequence, an emerging hostility from Russia, NATO’s purpose as a united military bloc became revived. Russian aggression in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus proves the necessity of a strong Atlantic-European alliance. Countering Russia’s influence is as important as preventing Soviet expansion was during the Cold War.
To believe that supporting our Eastern European allies is of no strategic importance to the United States would be a naïve mistake; any far-flung ally is an extension of the American sphere of influence. Any nation would prefer to spend billions of dollars on a foreign war than spend billions more and lose millions of lives in a war at home. Thus, even from a solely geopolitical perspective with neglect of pressing humanitarian concerns, investing in strengthening relations with NATO members serves the United States’ national interests.
One growing concern in the United States is that other NATO members’ underinvestment in their defense budget allows them to take advantage of American military spending. But is this really the case? It is true that many member states invest below the minimum quota of 2% of the national GDP. Although Poland and the Baltic republics spend well over the minimum quota due to their proximity to war zones, not all countries invest on par with the United States. For instance, although the Italian Army is of substantial size, the Italian Navy spends only as is necessary to fulfill its national interests in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, including maintenance of a comparatively poor-quality aircraft carrier. The worst NATO member states in defense spending, Canada and Spain, act as free riders of American military spending. Nevertheless, NATO’s combined defense efforts are more effective than if they were divided.
As the indisputable global hegemon, the United States is expected to invest a substantial amount of its economy into securing its national interests. Besides, only part of the military budget is focused on Euro-Atlantic concerns. The United States’ presence in NATO ensures that NATO’s spending aligns with American interests to a degree. The substantial military investment among NATO member states, though lower than the United States on average, allows the United States to focus on strategic regions elsewhere in the world or reserve tax money for domestic purposes.
High dedication and close relations among NATO states serve as a crucial part of the United States’ national security. The alliance brings helpful military and diplomatic cooperation, including anti-terrorism measures and anti-junta action in West Africa. In an era in which the world remains largely bipolar, closing gaps in relations with allies (in particular, Turkey) is paramount. While foreign relations may appear distant, they impact every citizen tremendously: international relations and the projection of American influence worldwide directly affect the American economy and livelihood. Although self-interest in one’s own community is sensible, one must not neglect the benefit of looking at the broadest picture.