Publication

This paper examines the divisions in the North Atlantic alliance following the US-led invasion of Iraq. The author investigates whether NATO can effectively carry on despite internal differences, or whether the costs of the transatlantic alliance have begun to outweigh the benefits. The paper describes how changes in US national security policy since 11 September 2001 have brought a different approach to NATO, and that as a consequence a "value gap" has opened up between the traditional NATO countries in Europe and the United States. The author states that because of differences over the value of power and the use of American military power in international conflicts, the rift between the United States and its NATO allies could take a long time to heal.