II. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Chapter:

4. Euro-Atlantic security and institutions: rebalancing in the midst of global change

Source:

SIPRI Yearbook 2010

Author(s):

Alyson J.K. Bailes, Andrew Cottey

NATO marked its 60th anniversary in 2009 with a summit meeting in April, jointly held in Strasbourg in France and Kehl in Germany, symbolizing peaceful cooperation and integration among Euro-Atlantic states since the end of World War II. In addition, in March French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced that France would rejoin NATO’s integrated military command system; in April Albania and Croatia became the 27th and 28th members of NATO; and in August former Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen took office as NATO’s new secretary general. The year, however, was not one of celebration for NATO. Rather, it was marked by difficult debates over three issues in particular: NATO’s ongoing operation in Afghanistan, NATO’s troubled relationship with Russia and the development of a new strategic concept for the alliance.