ABSTRACT
Over the past three decades, the question of burden-sharing has made regular appearances on NATO’s agenda. At issue is how the resource burden of NATO’s security arrangement should be calculated and distributed fairly among the allies. The most appropriate comment on the usefulness of the burden-sharing exercise is the fact that despite the conclusion of thoroughly researched Pentagon reports to the effect that the allies are contributing their fair share of the collective burden, Congressional criticism continues, as if the reports did not exist. During the last two years, transatlantic tension between the United States and Europe has increased to the extent that many observers now question whether the United States and Europe continue to share the same interests and objectives. The study concludes by considering a number of alternative approaches to bridging the gap that currently exists between the United States and Europe concerning Western security arrangements. .
