In recent years, NATO countries have been working to set and achieve various goals related to the future of the organization. One such goal is to have all NATO countries reach a certain level of military readiness by the year 2024. This goal is seen as necessary in order to maintain the organization’s effectiveness in the face of various challenges, including those posed by Russia and other potential adversaries.
Improving military capabilities
In order to reach this goal, NATO countries have been working to improve their military capabilities and to increase their levels of defense spending. This has included initiatives to modernize their armed forces, to develop new weapons and technologies, and to increase the number of troops that are ready and able to be deployed on short notice. NATO countries have also been working to improve their cooperation and coordination, both within the organization and with partner countries.
Despite these efforts, it remains to be seen whether all NATO countries will be able to meet the 2024 goal. Some countries, such as the United States, are already meeting or exceeding the required levels of military readiness, while others, such as Germany, are still lagging behind. There are also concerns that some countries may not be willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, and resources. Nonetheless, the goal remains an important one for the future of the organization, and NATO countries will continue to work towards it in the years to come.
Transatlantic relationship
In 2024, there will most likely be no alliance that remains united. The United States will keep pressing Europe to contribute more to its own defense – and thus to NATO’s burden-sharing efforts. The European Allies will almost certainly face new challenges from a Trump administration, but most likely in a less aggressive and diplomatic manner. The alliance’s history has been dominated by the transatlantic relationship, which has always been a topic of contention. Almost as old as the Alliance itself is the debate over who should shoulder the burden. Because of fundamental changes in the international order, these close-the-ranks interests in the Alliance are increasingly at risk. ‘America First’ is viewed as a response to globalism by President Trump in his inaugural address.
As China and other Asian countries advance, the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific will retain their growing geostrategic importance. As long as Russia’s actions endanger European security, the United States will almost certainly maintain a military presence in Europe. Because Washington is a state that is both a Pacific and a Western state, it will be required to devote more resources to the Pacific region.
The Economist’s 2018 Democracy Index found that 5% of the world’s population lives in a ‘full democracy,’ and only 13% have access to a free press. For the 12th year in a row, there was a decline in global freedom, with 71 countries experiencing a decline in political and civil liberties in 2018. The rule of law is under attack, free press freedom is under increasing pressure, and Hungary, Poland, and Turkey no longer meet the definition of full democracies. The future of the Alliance will largely be determined by the effectiveness of NATO’s internal political cohesion in 2024.
Did you subscribe to our daily Newsletter?
It’s Free! Click here to Subscribe
Source: Malaysian Digest
