NATO’s Great Reset From Kosovo to Libya — Planes, Claims & Bombing Campaigns

R3 Files Podcast ― The Success of Failure

PART 2:

Throughout the course of history, military alliances have existed, to act either as a counter-balancing force or to repel a perceived threat. The origins of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) stem from its members’ perceived need to balance the rising power of the Soviet Union in the aftermath of World War II. It was initially created as a countervailing force to the Berlin Blockade and the threat of Communism aggression. After the end of Cold War hostilities in 1991, NATO needed to repurpose the Alliance, if it was to survive and stay relevant as a functioning organization. Initially, it expanded its responsibilities to peacekeeping and crisis management, until President Clinton proposed a Partnership for Peace (PfP), which laid the foundation for expanding the NATO alliance eastward, allowing NATO to readjust its scope for security, by pursuing an expansive concept of global, collective security.

In the 21 century NATO was confronted by new global challenges and the Alliance adapted by transforming its military capability towards new military excursions. However in recent years the Alliance has been heavily criticized as a ”Western foreign policy tool” in the guise of humanitarian expeditions, leading to controversy over NATO’s ability to deliver on its state-craft solutions. Consequently one area which has been affected by NATO’s military missions is the Russian Federation’s sphere of influence, leading to a fundamental reform of Russia’s relations with the western military alliance since the mid 2000s. In particular, NATO interventions in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya have forced Russia to rethink its security strategy and modernize its military capabilities. In this episode my aim will be to explain how major crises since the early 2000s have been shaped by NATO-Russia relations. The central theme argues that differences in NATO and Russian geopolitical discourses towards crises in Kosovo, Libya and Afghanistan have led to reciprocal disagreements resulting in negative relations with Russia.

In this two part episode, my objectives will be to:

1.) Outline and compare the concepts behind the relevant NATO and Russian geopolitical discourses in relation to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya

2.) To address the question; Why NATO intervened in the affairs of these three countries?

3.) Explain the consequences for their mutual relations and cooperation within the international arena.

4.) How have the NATO military interventions affected relations with Russia after the Cold War? After examining the historical background of each of the three countries involved, I will examine the geopolitical discourses relevant to each crisis.

In the final section, I will briefly review the short-term effectiveness of the two NATO bombing campaigns by reviewing the casualties and loss of life; whether the humanitarian goals such as (R2P) “responsibility to protect” were achieved. Also, whether the stated goals became de-prioritized, as unstated goals took greater precedence.