Samenvatting

The collapse of the Soviet Union meant the removal of the main adversary of NATO, and many believed that NATO had become obsolete given its original purpose of countering the Soviet communist threat. The end of the Cold War caused a debate about the future role and the necessity of the Alliance. It soon became apparent though, that there were new situations in which NATO could become engaged, especially when a number of regional conflicts broke out in Yugoslavia and in parts of the former Soviet Union. The Alliance decided to go 'out-of-area', which meant that it started to get involved in peacekeeping operations and crisis management, in a territory other than its own. NATO's main role shifted from collective defence to collective security.
Subsequently, the important choice was made to enlarge NATO in order to enhance security and stability on the European territory. Since then, the focus of NATO has undergone fundamental change and the Alliance has taken a more proactive approach with regard to the maintenance of security. This was the consequence of the growing impact of non-traditional security threats like terrorism and nuclear proliferation that could easily form a threat to NATO members.
The Alliance is going through a continuous process of transformation with regard to its composition, its capabilities and its focus. Over time NATO has evolved into a strong military mechanism with vast operational capabilities and established peace agreements and partnerships with third countries and potential member candidates. The importance of the transatlantic alliance might even grow with regard to the security threats of the 21st century, such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and ethnic conflicts that bring the NATO member states in peril.
Nevertheless, NATO faces challenges that could question its success and importance in the future. It is debatable whether the Alliance has acquired the new tools that are necessary for its newly designed missions, and if its military forces can be combined successfully with civilian efforts. There has been much discussion going on about the presence of NATO's force in Afghanistan. Also, disagreements occur within the Alliance, particularly between the Americans and Europeans. Internal divisions, for example over the Iraq invasion in 2003, undermine the efficacy of NATO. As a reflection of this particular rift, the European Union has increased efforts to develop its own military capabilities, perhaps independent of NATO. A common defence policy may soon be implemented through the Lisbon Treaty and will enhance the EU as a security institution. The question that can be drawn here is what any new defence policy at the EU level will mean for the future of NATO, and if the two security institutions could go hand in hand.
The aim of this research is to assess NATO as a regional security institution. The central research question is: How did NATO evolve after the Cold War and how can it maintain its importance in the future?
Through an analysis of NATO's metamorphosis over the past 20 years, it will be examined how NATO can confront its current challenges. It will be explained why NATO is successful and why its existence is essential, as well as what challenges it faces and how those can be overcome. Accordingly, it can be concluded what the prospects of NATO are for the future. Likewise, recommendations will be given as to what the Alliance should improve in order to remain relevant and effective. The purpose of this paper is not to speculate on NATO's future. Rather, it is to examine what NATO has to improve in order to retain its status as the most important military alliance between two crucial global powers, Europe and North America.