NATO turns 75 and an increasing number of people in Germany once again recognise the organisation for what it is: the indispensable alliance for our security. What can we do to keep the United States engaged in NATO? What role can the alliance play in the Indo-Pacific and on its southern flank? And why is its partnership policy with countries from Asia to Latin America so important? Read this issue of International Reports to find out!

by Gerhard Wahlers

More than (just) the North Atlantic

NATO was founded on April 4, 1949, by twelve countries from Europe and North America.
Since then, 20 additional countries have joined NATO in various rounds of enlargement.

An Interview with Ambassador Géza Andreas von Geyr

In International Reports, Germany’s Ambassador to NATO, Géza Andreas von Geyr, talks about military deterrence against Russia, the possible return of Donald Trump, and steps towards stronger European pillars in the Alliance.

by Sören Soika, Fabian Wagener

Assessing Washington’s Commitments to Europe in a Pre-war World

The international security setting has changed dramatically in recent decades. So has American politics. From isolationists to progressives, foreign policy ideologues are offering old wine in new bottles to an American people on the search for answers. It is an open question if these ideas will triumph. Specifically, the sharpest test for US policy toward Europe will be in defining Ukraine’s relationship with NATO.

by Peter Rough

German and European Contributions to ­NATO

2024 has the potential to go down in history as a fateful year for European defence. The election of the 47th US President could have a major impact on the future of NATO. However, Germany and Europe are not simply at the mercy of their fate – they have potential courses of action at their disposal. What specific steps should they take at this point?

by Christina Bellmann, Alexander Schuster

Fostering Cooperation and Strategic Synergies

Japan’s relationship with NATO continues to evolve as part of a trajectory that connects synergies and shared concerns about how authoritarian states, specifically China and Russia, are aligning to weaken the international rules-based order, an order that has been beneficial to both Japan and all NATO members.

by Stephen Nagy

­NATO and Australia

Nobody in Canberra wants or expects Article 5-style security guarantees from NATO. However, located in a region faced with China’s increasing expansionism, Australia could greatly benefit from a closer partnership because alliances are what China fears most.

by Bertil Wenger, Justin Burke

NATO Mission Iraq and the Alliance’s Role on Its Southern Flank

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO is once again focusing its attention on classic alliance defence on the eastern flank. While this shift is right, NATO should not lose sight of other threats. Above all, this applies to fragile states on the alliance’s southern periphery. With its advisory mission in Iraq, NATO is looking for ways to stabilise the region with a moderate use of resources – and to define the role the alliance itself wishes to play overall in the southern neighbourhood in the future.

by Lucas Lamberty

Colombia as a Global Partner of ­NATO

Outside the expert community, very few people in Europe are likely to know that Colombia is a global partner of NATO. In fact, the country is even something of a pioneer among NATO’s global partners and the cooperation offers concrete benefits to both sides – so concrete that the partnership seems able to withstand President Gustavo Petro’s anti-Western rhetoric.

by Stefan Reith

40 Jahre Auslandsinformationen

40 Jahre Auslandsinformationen, das heißt 40 Jahre Beiträge zur Information und Meinungsbildung zu relevanten Fragen der internationalen Politik. Das Magazin informiert aus erster Hand die interessierte Öffentlichkeit und Entscheidungsträger aus dem Deutschen Bundestag gleichermaßen. Dabei sind stets auch Länder und Regionen im Blickfeld, die nicht tagtäglich die politische Debatte hierzulande bestimmen. Mit Mut zur anspruchsvollen Analyse und konkreten Handlungsempfehlungen liefern die Auslandsinformationen einen wichtigen Diskussionsbeitrag, weiten den Blickwinkel und regen zum Nachdenken an. Damit tragen sie seit 40 Jahren zu einer fundierten außenpolitischen Debatte bei und liefern damit wichtige Impulse zur Gestaltung der deutschen Außen- und Sicherheitspolitik.

by Friedrich Merz