United States Security Strategy for Europe and NATO

INTRODUCTION

Throughout its history, America has been inextricably linked to Europe. It has influenced the balance of power and the struggle among competing ideas in Europe. In this century, America's essential role has been underscored in one World War against ultra-nationalism, a second against fascism, and a Cold War against communism. With the end of the Cold War, some thought that the struggle over power and ideas in Europe had ended with the victory of democracy over communism, and that an American presence would no longer be necessary. But after only a few years, it is clear that American involvement remains essential for European stability. The building of tolerant democratic societies, and the balance of power that allows them to take root and flourish, are still at risk. President Clinton's four trips to Europe last year reflect a continuing historical fact: America has been a European power, it remains a European power, and it will continue to be a European power.

Europe represents the world's greatest concentration of nations and peoples which share our commitment to democracy and market economies. America's cultural heritage and institutions largely spring from European roots. Our most important multilateral alliance - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) - is centered there. The continent is also one of the world's greatest centers of economic power and represents a massive export market for U.S. products. Thus, our continued political, cultural, and economic well-being is inextricably tied to Europe.

Local conflicts, internal political and economic instability, and the reemergence of historic grievances have replaced Soviet expansionism as the greatest threat to peace in Europe. The United States and its transatlantic allies must jointly ensure that tolerant democracies become rooted throughout all of Europe and that the unresolved legacies of past conflicts are contained and resolved.

In this context, building a new security architecture for Europe means providing a framework to build stable democracies, market economies, and ultimately a stable and just peace across the continent. If we are to realize our goal of a peaceful, democratic, prosperous, and undivided Europe, we must work with our transatlantic partners to extend the zone of stability to the region as a whole.

The United States National Security Strategy, published in February 1995, is designed to meet this European challenge. Our global strategy seeks to enlarge the community of market democracies while deterring and containing a range of threats to our nation and our interests through engagement with our allies. Focusing on new threats and new opportunities, its central goals are to enhance security by maintaining a strong defense capability and promoting cooperative security measures; to promote democracy abroad; and to open foreign markets and spur global economic growth.

This document explains how U.S. defense policy is furthering these goals in Europe. As will be seen, we are pursuing our security strategy not only through NATO, but also through other multilateral institutions, such as the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), supporting separate yet complementary efforts by our allies and friends in the European Union, and through the bilateral relationships that have played such a valuable role in U.S.-European cooperation for more than forty years.

Our vision for transatlantic security is a system of interlocking institutions and relationships rooted in a common commitment to democracy, individual rights and the rule of law: a Europe that, for the first time since the establishment of nation states, would not be divided by violent conflict or lingering animosities.