NATO at 60: Time for a New Strategic Concept, Winter 2008

With a new administration assuming office in the United States, this is the ideal moment to initiate work on a new Alliance Strategic Concept. I expect significant inputs from all member states during this process, including a major contribution to the debate from Turkey, given the country’s pivotal geographical position and its unique regional expertise. It is essential that we reinforce the concept of Allied solidarity in this new security environment and that all nations are reassured that they will not be left to face these challenges on their own. That is why the new Strategic Concept must provide an updated definition for our “solidarity clause” and a clear understanding of what we mean by collective defense.