Are the days of NATO as we know it doomed? Will Europe, instead of looking to the United states as a partner for its security, need to start looking towards Russia and Turkey, "the maverick guardians of the EU's eastern flank," as the Guardian's Simon Tisdall recently put it?
That seems to be the case put forward by a new report by the European Council on Foreign Relations. From the report's summary:
The report argues that Europe is becoming increasingly multipolar, and in danger of lapsing into separate spheres of influence. It argues that the US is no longer willing to engage in Europe's internal security, and instead, the main actors - the EU, Russia and Turkey - must come together in a trialogue to build a new European security architecture. Turkey's EU accession process must also be strengthened alongside recognition of its recent emergence as a credible regional power.
The full report can be found here.
Among its recommendations? That an "informal ‘trialogue’ involving the EU, Turkey and Russia should be established, allowing cooperation over security to build from the ground up." And, "In order to strengthen Turkey’s European identity, Ankara should be given a top-table seat at the trialogue, in parallel with enhanced EU accession negotiations."
So, instead of the North Atlantic Treat Organization, could we soon be seeing the birth of the Eastern Flank Treaty Organization?
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