NATO Stability Teams: The Next Stage of Capability Development

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NATO Stability Teams: The Next Stage of Capability Development

A. M. Moisan / J. D. Moroney

Despite all it has accomplished, NATO is now approaching Act II of a 21st-century drama, where transformation faces critical new challenges. From the strain of supporting out-of-area deployments in the Balkans and Afghanistan, and with the growth of stabilization and reconstruction missions, counterterrorism operations, and prospective support to civil authorities in homeland security, the demand for combat support and combat service support type capabilities highlights a severe capabilities gap. The need for a new and broader approach to addressing expeditionary and homeland defense missions, as well as more inventive ways of dealing with new partners and Allies, is clear as NATO approaches the next stage in this evolution of Alliance transformation. To meet these challenges, this article proposes the development of NATO Stability Teams (NSTs). NSTs would be flexible and mobile teams ranging from 20 to 100 personnel organized to leverage the comparative advantages of host countries to address humanitarian, civilian, and military capabilities requirements. These teams could respond to crisis management scenarios and natural and humanitarian disasters, as well as act as enablers for transatlantic homeland security missions. The development of NSTs would provide a unique venue for NATO to constructively address all three integrating elements of transformation. Simply put, NSTs would allow the Alliance to operationalize partnering, expeditionary efforts, and capabilities, as well as focus on capabilities critical to homeland security operational requirements. The teams would provide a real opportunity for all members, including small Allies, new members, and Partnership for Peace (PFP) and Mediterranean Dialogue partners, to make an operational contribution to the Alliance if they choose.