Is the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Sustainable?

Abstract : During the Cold War, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was widely viewed as essential for the security of NATO member-states. After the Cold War, many European nations continued to look to NATO as a guarantor of their security. Post-Cold War, NATO broadened its involvement beyond Western Europe, while absorbing several states from the former Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact. NATO has evolved from an alliance that was primarily defensive in nature, and European focused, to a more globally focused defensive alliance. A question often asked since the end of the Cold War is, Can NATO be sustained? While the U.S. President has labeled NATO as the indispensable organization and former Secretary of Defense Gates have stressed its importance to both individual and global security; they also express concern about its future. NATO can be sustained. Ultimately, however, NATO itself must convince its own members that NATO is necessary for their security. Failure to do so may threaten NATO's future existence.