NATO's Dilemma - National Security or Human Security or Both?

NATO is at an inflection point which will test its commitment to articulate Western liberal democratic values. This dramatic moment comes at the confluence of a pandemic, financial instability, rising energy prices, climate change, political dynamics, and a major high-intensity war in Europe, which is severely testing NATO’s unity of purpose. An Alliance response to external aggression is predicated on defending member "nation-state" borders. However, the world has changed since the enactment of the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 and the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949. Some threats to sovereignty come from non-nation-states and some threats to Alliance cohesion are internal. See my article in Canadian Military Journal, Vol. 25, No. 2, Spring 2025 edition on "Human Security":

https://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/cmj-article-en-252page37.html

As you read the article I encourage your reflection on the following challenges to NATO cohesion:

1) assured continuity of government and critical government services;

2) resilient energy supplies;

3) ability to deal effectively with the uncontrolled movement of people;

4) resilient food and water resources;

5) ability to deal with mass casualties;

6) resilient communications systems; and

7) resilient transportation systems.