Rediscovering geography in NATO defence planning

ABSTRACT

This article explores the relevance of geography in NATO defence planning. Historical analysis of strategic concepts and other planning documents suggests a pendulum movement from treating geography as the central organising principle within the alliance, to downplaying its role in favour of functional considerations, and back. In view of mounting tensions alongside Europe’s eastern and southern flanks, this argument acquires contemporary relevance with regards to how alliance responsibilities can be (re)distributed. Rediscovering the early principle that allies should concentrate on those tasks for which they are the most geographically suited offers a promising approach for a new division of labour.

KEYWORDS:

• NATO
• defence planning
• geography
• strategic concept
• transformation

Acknowledgments

This research was financially enabled through the generous support of the Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange. The author is also much indebted to Birthe Anders, Frank Hoffman, Manuel Muñiz, Luis Simon, Patrick Wouters, the editors of this special issue and the two anonymous reviewers for commenting on earlier drafts of this text. Last but not least, the ideas contained in this argument have grown organically through numerous off-the-record discussions with NATO planners. Many thanks are due to these interlocutors for their time and candour. The responsibility for any errors is of course the author’s alone.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Commission for Educational Exchange between the United States of America, Belgium & Luxembourg [Fulbright Schuman award].

Notes on contributors

Alexander Mattelaer

Alexander Mattelaer is Director of the European Affairs programme at Egmont – the Royal Institute of International Relations – and an assistant professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Institute for European Studies). During the spring of 2016 he was a Fulbright Schuman Visiting Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, and at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. He is the author of The Politico-Military Dynamics of European Crisis Response Operations (Palgrave Macmillan, 2013).