1. NATO and the Muslim world
Colonel ITA A (ret.) Giuseppe MORABITO
NATO Defence College Foundation

2. NATO’s enlargement

3. NATO and Partners
NATO’s enlargement and partnership policy are tools to promote security and stability
PfP
Russia – Suspended
Ukraine
Georgia
Mediterranean Dialogue
Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
Partners around the Globe
International Organisations (UN, OSCE, EU, AU, Arab League, GCC)

4. NATO Partnerships

5. Mediterranean Dialogue
EGYPT
JORDAN
ISRAEL
MAURITANIA
MOROCCO
TUNISIA
ALGERIA

6. Istanbul Cooperation Initiative
BAHREÏN
KUWAIT
Q A T A R
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

7. Partners Around the Globe
MONGOLIA
JAPAN
SOUTH KOREA
AUSTRALIA
AFGHANISTAN
NEW ZEALAND
PAKISTAN
IRAQ

8. Misperceptions of NATO
NATO is a Military Alliance

9. Misperceptions of NATO
NATO is run by the USA
Origin:
Widespread and common belief. NATO sometimes seen as extension of US Imperial policy
US is the largest Ally – assumption that the US would not join/stay if it weren’t in control
Has the largest economy. Spends most on defence by far – over 70% of the pie

10. Misperceptions of NATO
NATO is an aggressive Alliance
Origin
Sometimes linked with the notion of US domination
Idea that NATO is seeking to conquer/control
Grounded in old power politics – not enough to exist or prosper. Zero sum. Must want to grow empire

11. Misperceptions of NATO
Russia is the enemy
Origin
Perhaps most common misperception today – very prominent
Historical roots - while Soviet Union not mentioned in treaty, people think back to the words of Lord Ismay – NATO was founded “to keep the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Germans down.”
Russia promotes this misperception – NATO as aggressor, encircling
Says NATO broke promises with enlargement

12. Misperceptions about NATO
NATO and EU are competitors
Origins
Early days of EU security policy, concern over duplication (Albright)

13. Misperceptions of NATO
Partnerships are a one-way street
Origins
Belief that NATO uses partnerships to increase the resource pool for operations or to gain influence

14. Misperceptions of NATO
NATO is a Christian club
Origins
Conflation of NATO and the West – the West with Judeo-Christian traditions

15. Misperceptions of NATO
NATO has no regard for Muslim lives
Origins
Civilian casualties in AFG
No follow on mission in Libya
No earlier involvement in Iraq and Syria

16. WHAT REALLY GUIDES NATO
“Events, my boy, events …”
Harold Macmillan, UK Prime Minister ( )

17. WHY PREDICTION IS NECESSARY
“My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life there.” - Charles F. Kettering, American inventor

18. POLITICS OF PERCEPTION

19. Questions?