Post-Cold War NATO planning redirected from East to southern threats

Evidence

The logic of civilizations dictates a similar outcome concerning the expansion of NATO. The Cold War began with the extension of Soviet political and military control into Central Europe. The United States and Western European countries formed NATO to deter and, if necessary, defeat further Soviet aggression. In the post-Cold War world, NATO is the security organization of Western civilization. With the Cold War over, NATO has one central and compelling purpose: to insure that it remains over by preventing the reimposition of Russian political and military control in Central Europe. — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 434 (#complicates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: NATO stayed cohesive despite neorealist predictions of its collapse — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 57; NATO redefined the post-Soviet threat as indirect but real to justify persisting. — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 86; NATO has expanded rather than dissolved after the Soviet threat ended. — Robert B. McCalla, NATO’s persistence after the cold war, 15 (+5 more)

Broader Connections

• Post-Cold War NATO’s core purpose is preventing renewed Russian control of Central Europe #complicates (0.78) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 434