NATO sums up the past year

In 2015, NATO focused on “deflecting the Russian threat." Like 2014, every month in the Balkans and in the Baltic States, large-scale military exercises were carried out under the auspices of "Operation Atlantic Resolve." In all of these manoeuvres, a confrontation against Russia was simulated. Particular attention was paid to the Baltic and Black Seas. Containing Russia has been the long-term task of the Alliance. The military leaders of NATO and the United States have repeatedly named a "Russian threat" in official statements and documents.

Despite the constant training and loud statements, the NATO structure is going through hard times. Loud statements of the late 90’s, stressing the need to go beyond the previous area of responsibility (Europe), did not survive the test of time.

NATO has shown its inefficiency in the operation in Afghanistan, where the alliance failed to achieve any appreciable results. Further evidence of the inefficiency of the Alliance in addressing operational problems is the non-participation of NATO in resolving the Syrian crisis. The US military coalition against ISIS includes some allied states that are outside the NATO structure.

NATO's European countries are initially in unequal positions, prompting Europe to seek ways of building the military structures of the EU. The contradictions between the US and continental Europe, and between NATO members (in conflict are Greece with Turkey, Hungary with Romania and Slovakia) reduces the ability to respond rapidly to challenges and threats. The case of Turkey is exemplar, which has tried to appeal to NATO for help after the incident with the destruction of the Russian jet over Syria. However, they received no serious support because of the negative position of the countries of continental Europe, who decided not to aggravate the already difficult relations with Russia.