Security challenges and risks

Notwithstanding positive developments in the strategic environment and the fact that large-scale conventional aggression against the Alliance is highly unlikely, the possibility of such a treat emerging over the longer term exists. The security of the Alliance remains subject to a wide variety of military and non-military risks which are multi-directional and often difficult to predict.

These risks include uncertainty and instability in and around the Euro-Atlantic area and the possibility of regional crises at the periphery of the Alliance, which could evolve rapidly. Some countries in and around the Euro-Atlantic area face serious economic, social, and political difficulties. Ethnic and religious rivalries, territorial disputes, inadequate or failed efforts at reform, the abuse of human rights, and the dissolution of states can lead to local and even regional instability. The resulting tensions could lead to crises affecting Euro-Atlantic stability, to human suffering, and to armed conflicts. Such conflicts could affect the security of the Alliance by spilling over into neighboring countries, including NATO countries, or in other ways, any could also affect the security of other states.

The existence of powerful nuclear forces outside the Alliance also constitutes a significant factor which the Alliance has to take into account if security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area are to be maintained.

The proliferation of NBC (Nuclear, Bacteriological and Chemical) weapons and their means of delivery remains a matter of serious concern. In spite of welcome progress in strengthening international non-proliferation regimes, major challenges with respect to proliferation remain. The Alliance recognizes that proliferation can occur despite efforts to prevent it and can pose a direct military threat to the Allies’ populations, territory, and forces. Some states, including on NATO’s periphery and in other regions, sell or acquire or try to acquire NBC weapons and delivery means. Commodities and technology that could be used to build these weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means are becoming more common, while detection and prevention of illicit trade in these materials and know-how continues to be difficult. Non-state actors have shown the potential to create and use some of these weapons.

Any armed attack on the territory of the Allies, from whatever direction, would be covered by Article 5 and 6 of the Washington Treaty. However, Alliance’s security must also take account of the globe context. Alliance security interests can be affected by other risks of disruption of large numbers of people, particularly as a consequence of armed conflicts, can also pose problems for security and stability affecting the Alliance. Arrangements exist within the Alliance for consultation among the Allies under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty and, where appropriate, co-ordination of their efforts including their responses to risks of this kind.

2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.

To safeguard; the rule of law; a commitment; a challenge; to deter; a large-scale conventional aggression; a rivalry; the abuse of human rights; a dissolution; a proliferation; to pose a threat to; delivery means; weapons of mass destruction (WMD); offensive and defensive advanced weaponry; to provide for; adversary.

3. Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases and make up your own sentences or situations with them.

Роспуск; средства доставки (оружия массового поражения); защищать; представлять угрозу; обязательство; вызов; устрашать; враг/противник; решение споров; запугивать; нарушать права человека; принуждать; современное наступательное и оборонительное вооружение; затрагивать/влиять; жизненно важный; устрашение; широкомасштабная агрессия с применением обычного вооружения; оружие массового поражения; соперничество; распространение (оружия массового поражения); предусматривать/предписывать; верховенство закона.

4. Read the article again and answer the questions.

1) What is the official purpose of NATO?

2) What is NATO based on?

3) What is the fundamental NATO’s principle?

4) Are NATO’s allies encouraged to rely upon their own national efforts alone in dealing with basic security challenges? And why?

5) What are NATO’s principle tasks? What do they mean?

6) What is highly unlikely in NATO’s security environment?

7) What non-military challenges does NATO face today?

8) Who do you think is meant by”powerful nuclear forces outside NATO” that constitutes a significant factor which the Alliance has to take into account?

9) What does the proliferation challenge mean?

5. Comment on the following statements.

1) NATO’s purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of all its members by political and military means.

2) NATO’s principle task is defense of its members.

3) Today the biggest threat to NATO is a large – scale conventional aggression against the Alliance.

4) Non-military challenges pose the most serious threat to NATO today.

6. Look at the NATO security challenges and risks again and make up a chart defining which of them are of vital and peripheral nature.

Vital

1.

2.

3.

Peripheral

1.

2.

3.

7. Give a summary of the NATO concept in English using the words and expressions from the previous exercises.

Make a presentation on the topics below and answer the questions of the audience.

1. NATO’s role and tasks today

2. Should Russia join NATO?