NATO Reaction

Question: 2) How important is NATO to US Foreign Policy/National Interests?

         NATO is somewhat important to the United States’ Foreign Policy. Although we are not in a Cold War, Russia still has power and is a nuclear state. Being a part of NATO has given us influence in many countries that border or are close to Russia. If one of these nations were attacked, we would go in and fight under NATO. This obviously doesn’t make Russia excited about this possibility as they want to be able to do what they want. This keeps them from really expanding out too much greater area. I would say that NATO is not as important as it once was but is not something to get rid of. For the smaller countries that are apart of NATO, this alliance is very important for security.

The United States helped to form this alliance and should not abandon it. Russia has not been able to do as much as they probably would have wanted to do while they were still the Soviet Union. The impact that it has on Europe is an important key as well. If we want to have any power in Europe this is one way to do so. It doesn’t involve going to war unless if someone was attacked. The smaller countries should also have a better relationship with the United States due to how they are protected by us. The former Soviet states especially are grateful as they want don’t want Russia to bully them into submission like we have seen with countries such as Georgia.

NATO is not the number one thing in the nations interests but it still is prevalent for our foreign policy. With the expanding threats that Russia makes it is important for the United States to stay with NATO. Russia continues to push its boundaries on many issues that are important for the United States. Russia is an aggressor in their region and have influence over many of the countries that they once had been a part of. They have been trying ever since their collapse to have the areas that they once controlled. NATO has been able to combat this with their power that they have. Russia doesn’t enjoy having the United States and their allies right on their doorstep and would much rather have them get move away.

Although we do not do much in NATO anymore since there hasn’t been a massive instance where they have had to intervene it is still important to keep the alliance for the diplomacy. It promotes that we are a part of the international sphere of politics. NATO still shows that we are not abandon what we once were as a world power. It shows our good nature towards the rest of the allies in the alliance. To me NATO is pretty important for our foreign policy to ensure our relationships and make sure that threats do not occur from Russia towards the other countries.

Some people may think that we are playing the worlds police with this but it should be seen as diplomacy. Staying in NATO only creates better chances for trade deals and relations with the countries involved. There is a trust that both countries have while being a part of any alliance.