Why should NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, matter to us living in Bartholomew County? What difference does it make to us in southern Indiana?
For over 75 years, NATO has kept the peace in Europe, preventing another major land conflict on the continent. During that time, it served as a bulwark against the former Soviet Union and the spread of communism. It also prevented smaller wars from turning into much larger conflicts. NATO also has provided humanitarian assistance, including after natural disasters.
At the end of World War I, the United States declined to join the League of Nations. Had the United States taken an active role in the League of Nations, World War II might have been prevented. Or the war might have been far less terrible. Over 116,000 Americans died in World War I, including 30 brave souls from Bartholomew County. Sadly, “the war to end all wars,” was far from it. Our isolation cost us dearly.
A generation later, Americans would return to a war in Europe. This time, they would be fighting to save the world from fascism. The threat of fascism and Nazi Germany extended far beyond the geographical borders of Europe. In World War II, more than 180,000 Americans would die fighting in Europe alone. Since then, the strength of NATO has prevented another massive European war that would consume the entire globe. NATO has been one of the most successful military alliances in history. After World War II, the United States would be active in the post-war peace and prevent history from repeating itself.
I wish that NATO had outlived its usefulness. But there are new threats to the peace in Europe. If Russian leader Vladimir Putin successfully conquers Ukraine, will he stop there? If NATO does not stand in his way, who will? Will another “Iron Curtain” fall across Europe? If so, it would condemn millions of people to live under brutal dictatorships. This could also have disastrous for the American economy. NATO has also stood guard against international terrorism.
There have been some popular misconceptions, even among our elected officials, about how NATO works and is funded. NATO members do not pay fees or annual dues. This money does not go to the United States or to a general NATO fund. Rather, each NATO nation makes a commitment to spend at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product on defense annually.
And these are guidelines or suggested targets for member nations. They are not requirements. A nation is not disqualified from NATO if they fail to meet the 2% guideline.
NATO isn’t perfect. We need to be extremely judicious about deciding when and where to use force — when and where to put young people in harm’s way. We should certainly be having conversations about how much we spend as a nation on defense. We should also be exceedingly careful about entering into alliances.
But unilaterally abandoning a decades-long commitment to NATO would be a mistake. It would only embolden our adversaries and make us weaker around the globe. To turn away from NATO might be much more expensive in the long run, in terms of both blood and treasure.
Our elected officials need to be well versed in the history of NATO. They need to understand the current geopolitical, economic, and military importance of the alliance. They also need to rely on well-seasoned experts on the subject. This includes generals, admirals, diplomats, and economists — not political hacks.
Why should we care about NATO? Why should we care about keeping the peace in Europe? Those Americans who lay in rest for all eternity in European cemeteries, far from home, to make the world safe from fascism and genocide — they know the answer.
Aaron Miller is one of The Republic’s community columnists and all opinions expressed are those of the writer. He has a doctorate in history and is an associate professor of history at Ivy Tech Community College-Columbus. Send comments to [email protected].
