The new NATO puts Article 5 in the attic

(by Massimiliano D'Elia) NATO changes its skin, from a purely defensive alliance, under the dictates of art. 5, to a more modern, cooperative and reactive version that directs its attention towards crises, on a global level, capable of destabilizing the peace and security of the allied countries. The Secretary General of NATO,Jean Stoltenberg, in the final press conference, he publicly remarked on the new mission of the Alliance towards "Crisis with implications for the safety of all".

In some cases it was more explicit, such as when it was mentioned that "The crisis in Libya has direct implications for regional stability and the security of all allies". A particular interest, that towards Libya, which confirms and corroborates the position taken by the Draghi government since the beginning of its mandate: not to leave the North African country in the hands of Russia and Turkey. The Libyan dossier is in fact fundamental for Italy both for the well-known historical links and common economic interests and for the control and management of migratory flows.

Italy therefore had what it wanted, greater and unanimous attention towards Libya but also towards the Sahel (we are ready to participate with the Takuba mission), both decisive areas for the control of migratory flows towards our country and Europe but also to counter terrorism which, precisely from those areas, is reorganizing itself in a more structured way. On Libya, the intervention addresses were therefore clearly written in the final document: need to stabilize the area, promote national elections and unequivocally clarify theendorsement for the interim government of national unity.

Turkey. Very important, in this new course, it was the meeting took place behind closed doors between the US president, Biden and the Turkish president Erdogan. In this type of meeting, behind closed doors, you really decide what to do, or rather if to continue or not relations between states. In recent years, Turkey has taken more and more unilateral decisions openly in conflict with NATO and its allied countries. One example is the purchase of the Russian S 400 air defense systems and the solitary policy in Libya and Syria. Biden would be trying to mitigate the new Ottoman expansionism that Erdogan wanted.

Afghanistan. . Another issue that worries NATO and not a little is Afghanistan after the current withdrawal from Kabul. From that country now a renewed vitality is expected of the Taliban who, in addition to continuing to produce instability, could use migratory flows as an additional bargaining chip with the Western world.

NATO with the new approach substantially modifies its institutional function which saw the synthesis in the famous art. 5., last used to declare war on the Taliban, following the attack on the Twin Towers in 2001.

Today the Alliance, in order not to lose relevance on the world scene, has seen fit to react to global challenges with greater authority, trying to return to being an instrument of equilibrium in international politics. A new and renewed vigor following the decisions of the Biden administration to return to NATO to settle issues of common interest and to better oppose the growing Russian-Chinese bloc.

NATO remains NATO, it does not die as tycoon Donald Trump would have liked. Biden has thus rearranged the cards from his predecessor.

The new NATO puts Article 5 in the attic