ABSTRACT
A series of divisive issues confront NATO as it approaches its 60th anniversary in 2009. There is a growing need for Allies to improve their efforts to define a common understanding of their objectives in Afghanistan, given that the continuing absence of any clear strategic success threatens the long-term sustainability of the NATO mission. Indeed, a debate is underway over how the international community should define ‘success’ in Afghanistan. 2008 also saw the Alliance examine its expansion programme and the ambitions for it, in the light of the sharp conflict between Russia and NATO-aspirant Georgia. On the margins of NATO’s informal ministerial meeting in London in September 2008, some analysts questioned NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer about whether the Alliance needed to rethink the balance between expeditionary missions and the traditional task of collective defence. Others have urged caution over expansion, saying that this should follow NATO’s strategic interests, and not be an institutional priority in itself.
