NATO

NATO Summit in Bucharest
(April 2–4, 2008)
The NATO summit came at a critical time for the Alliance. Key issues  discussed included our important mission in Afghanistan, peace and stability in the Balkans, NATO enlargement, and relationships with our partners including Russia and the EU. Heads of state from all 26 NATO allies as well as 23 partner countries, including Russia, attended. More on NATO Summit

North Atlantic Council Summit Meeting
President Bush (Apr. 3): "For nearly six decades the NATO Alliance has been the hope of a world moving toward freedom and justice, and away from patterns of conflict and fear. During times of great challenge we have advanced our ideals. We've stood form in defending -- firm in defending them, and we have offered NATO's promise to nations willing to undertake the hard work and sacrifices required of its members....NATO's door must remain open to other nations in Europe that share our love for liberty, and demonstrate a commitment to reform, and seek to strengthen their ties with the transatlantic community." Full Text | Fact Sheet: 2008 NATO Summit | More on NATO Summit

NATO 2008: Is the Alliance Ready to Face New Challenges?
Expectations from Bucharest
"NATO has been undergoing a substantial transformation since the end of the Cold War, since the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans in the ‘90s and since September 11, 2001. […] In 1995, not that long ago, 13 years ago, NATO was an alliance of 16 countries. It had no partners, had not established a Partnership for Peace yet. Had never conducted a military operation. Had of course done a lot of defense planning, had conducted a lot of exercises, but had never engaged in a military operation where NATO was leading that. Fast forward that to 2006, 2007, 2008. Here you have a NATO that is now 26 members, having enlarged, brought in ten new members in a couple of waves of enlargement; having partners through the Partnership for Peace in Eurasia; partners in the Mediterranean through the Mediterranean Dialogue, seven of them; 20 in Eurasia; four in the Persian Gulf through the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative; working with other global partners such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan, in common endeavors such as the operations in Afghanistan. And NATO, which had never conducted a military operation for most of its history, by 2006 and beyond was conducting multiple operations simultaneously. The way I would explain this is that NATO’s mission, NATO’s purpose, the collective defense of its members, Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, remains unchanged. […] The way it has to go about that mission in today’s world is very different. The world today is characterized by threats that are very different than those that prevailed during the Cold War and immediately after." -- Acting Assistant Secretary Volker, Remarks National Press Club Newsmaker Program, March 20, 2008