Geopolitics Magazine November - December 2014 | Page 66

Geopolitics & Daily News Magazine
Γράφει ο Αλέξανδρος Νίκλαν
Σύμβουλος Θεμάτων Ασφαλείας
IISCA Sec Group/ Think Tank

NATO – SCO
Rising conflict case between prevailing and challenging alliance powers
What is NATO:
North Treaty Atlantic Organization
NATO is defined as an alliance treaty that was formed right after WWII with a single purpose to hold
back any outside threat by a collective defense effort and at the same time prevent any attacking
attempt against its members from an outside, of this treaty, country. Formed as a joined organization
in 1949 under article 51 of UN in order to apply countries rights on defense and solidarity within an
alliance. Today is an organization that is used for both political and military issues that concern
members of the treaty but also as a mean to protect democratic and human values all over the world
on cooperation with UN decisions by its security council. Members of this alliance are today 28
countries (which are considered full members along with many more being affiliates and partners) [1]
What is SCO:
Shanghai Cooperation Organization
SCO is a relative new alliance build in 2001 by Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China,
the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.
This alliance has also goals on political and army level but also has a framework of policies and
relations on economic, cultural and counter-terrorism/Security issues that are of concern to its
members. Along with previously mentioned member states that enjoy full rights of membership, there
are 8 more considered to be candidates and affiliates to the organization.[2]
NATO evolution
In recent years many member states and experts
have mentioned the need to transform the alliance
into an organization that will be able to handle crisis
and security management instead of a specialized
tool of collective defense which stands today.
Member states that oppose this (e.g. USA)
underlines Russia’s return as a major player and
power in Eurasia. This argument is used in order to
support that NATO although needs to face a unique
role in present and future security issues taking
place on the globe, it also needs to maintain its
defensive alliance character.
There are many areas where NATO, according to
members’ states suggestions, needs to adjust and
adapt new policies in order to face new security
video 1. NATO drill at Bulgaria 2014(vid)
threats. For example, terrorism, energy security,
Cyber-World security issues, etc. Most of them have emerged recently presenting a great problem on
defining a new security status quo with many asymmetric threats and parameters. NATO of today
seems not being able to deal with them with present form.
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