For NATO, Asia Is a Strategic Distraction
John Bolton gets it wrong. The alliance has enough to worry about in Europe. By Readers Aug. 6, 2023 11:05 am ET Outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, Feb. 28, 2020. Photo: Olivier Matthys/Associated Press The Ukraine war has revitalized NATO’s purpose: the defense of its member states from external attack. Before Russia’s invasion, the alliance was dithering in out-of-area operations, like training missions in Iraq and no-fly zones in Libya, of dubious importance to trans-Atlantic security. NATO busying itself in Asia (“Asian Allies Have a Role to Play in NATO” by John Bolton, op-ed, July 24) would be a strategic distraction. Outside the U.S., France and the U.K., NATO’s member states don’t possess the strength in numbers, capabilities or logistics to sail Asia’s congested waters for anything more than a shor
Outside NATO headquarters in Brussels, Feb. 28, 2020.
Photo: Olivier Matthys/Associated Press
The Ukraine war has revitalized NATO’s purpose: the defense of its member states from external attack. Before Russia’s invasion, the alliance was dithering in out-of-area operations, like training missions in Iraq and no-fly zones in Libya, of dubious importance to trans-Atlantic security. NATO busying itself in Asia (“Asian Allies Have a Role to Play in NATO” by John Bolton, op-ed, July 24) would be a strategic distraction.
Outside the U.S., France and the U.K., NATO’s member states don’t possess the strength in numbers, capabilities or logistics to sail Asia’s congested waters for anything more than a short period. At best, deployments would be symbolic.
Geopolitical factors should be considered as well. It’s hard to think of a more efficient way to buttress the Russia-China-North Korea partnership than dragging the U.S.-led military alliance into Asia.
Daniel R. DePetris
Fellow, Defense Priorities
New Rochelle, N.Y.
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