Defence and strategy

Vít ŠTAIF

The end of the Cold War meant transformation of the role of NATO from community raised for defense of participating member states to a group which manages wider tasks, particularly missions beyond its own area in the Balkans and Middle East. The USA have always considered NATO as its most important European ally, however, after the Cold War its role in the security policy of the USA has lost some of its importance. After international missions in the Balkans in the 90s some of the USA diplomats have begun to think that most of European part of NATO did not mean a reliable ally for the USA. The development after 11th September 2001 has shown that even such a strong state like the USA cannot act without allies, if it wants to lead a successful foreign policy.