Introduction
A supranational organization refers to a union or a group of companies that have membership in multiple nations. A single business that qualifies this description can also be considered a supranational organization.
The nations relinquish part of their power through political, financial, and martial alliances with the view of advancing the core agenda of a supranational organization. This highlight suggests that organizations such as OPEC and NATO and unions such as the EU and NAFTA fit the definition of supranational organizations.
This paper discusses NATO’s purpose, its current and most significant activities, and its membership.
Purpose
Supranational organizations advance the discourses of international relations that cover collective interactions that exist between international communities. These societies include homelands, persons, and even states (Nau 19). International organizations push the development agenda in different nations.
Martin and Simmons present the subject of international relations as a political science component that deals with issues of foreign affairs, including the contribution of supranational, multinational, and nongovernmental organizations to advancing the global defense, political, money-making, and social agenda (732).
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is also referred to as North Atlantic Alliance pursues international relations discourses. However, it focuses on enhancing collective defense of member states in response to any external inversion.
NATO’s main offices are based in Brussels, Belgium. It was created following the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. At its creation, its purpose was stated as maintaining general security around the globe.
However, its purpose expanded to include curtailing the exploration of weapons of mass destruction, defense against terrorism following September 11 attacks, and addressing issues of cyber attacks (U.S. Economy par.5). It has also extended its mission to work as a political and military alliance to meet the changing battlefield demands.
In this extent, although its main purpose is to ensure security of the member states, it also serves the role of addressing any aggression that emanates from non-member states since any violence threatens peace and stability of North Atlantic region.
For example, during the 2014 NATO’s summit, Russia’s inversion of Ukraine was among the organization’s agendas, although Ukraine is not a member of the alliance.
Current and Most Significant Activities
Since its formation, NATO has engaged in various activities that are consistent with its purpose. One of its most significant activities was its response to the threat of terrorism to member states by Al-Qaida and Taliban revolts.
The efforts of NATO to engage Taliban and al-Qaida insurgents in the war resulted in the spreading of the war into the North West parts of Pakistan. In 2004, NATO forces launched attacks to flash out and kill Taliban militia and al-Qaida insurgents who had sought refuge in Pakistan.
This situation led to the emergence of Waziristan insurgency in 2007. In May 2011, the US Navy SEALs managed to execute Osama bin Laden, the key player of al-Qaida. In less than a month following his killing, NATO began to work on a strategy to exit from Afghanistan.
During this time, the UN sought to engage the Afghan’s government and the Taliban insurgents in peace talks to restore tranquility so that NATO forces could exit from Afghanistan (Keppel, Jean-Pierre, and Ghazaleh 62). In Afghanistan, it deployed an excess of 84,000 troops during the peak of its operations (U.S. Economy par.5)
NATO sent people to train Iraqi forces in the attempt to ensure stability in the Middle East region. It also enforced the ‘no-fly zone’ policy in Libya in 2011 following the passing of ‘Resolution 1973’ of the UN. The resolution called for a ceasefire. It permitted NATO military to take up the role of civilian protection.
This move led to the toppling and killing of President Gaddafi. NATO also participated in enforcing the ‘no-fly Zone’ policy in 1992 during the Bosnia war. In 1994, it shot down four airplanes that belonged to Bosnia after they had contravened the ruling.
It launched military strikes in Yugoslavia in 1999 and used its ACE force to provide humanitarian support to Kosovo’s refugees. In 2009, NATO participated in an anti-piracy assignment in the Gulf of Aden.
Membership Requirements
NATO draws its membership mostly from North America and Europe. It has almost 30 associates. Its newest ones are Croatia and the State of Albania, which joined the body in 2009.
Others include, “Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada , Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK, and the US” (U.S. Economy par.11).
The business of NATO is handled by prime ministers or presidents of member states, ministers in charge of foreign affairs, and chief heads of the respective member states’ defense forces. The influence of member states is enhanced through alliances such as Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Mediterranean Dialogue, and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (U.S. Economy par.12)
Conclusion
Formed in 1949, NATO pursues political and military discourses that are aimed at shaping international relations to enhance peace and stability of its member States. This mission involves the prevention and reaction to external inversions, terrorism, and cyber attacks.
The organization accepts that peacekeeping is becoming a challenging task that needs intervention from external forces. Thus, to enhance territorial integrity of its member states, it seeks alliances across the globe.
Globalization has made it the business of all players in the world to ensure long-term peace in the transatlantic region since military forces from nations around this region cannot enhance peace and stability in the area without external assistance.
Works Cited
Keppel, Gilles, Milelli Jean-Pierre, and Pascale Ghazaleh. Al Qaeda in its own words. Harvard: Harvard University Press, 2008. Print.
Martin, Lisa, and Beth Simmons. “Theories and empirical studies of international institutions.” International Organization 52.4(1998): 729–757. Print.
Nau, Henry. Perspectives on International Relations: Power, Institutions, Ideas. New York, NY: Palgrave, 2008. Print.
U.S. Economy. NATO: Purpose, History and Alliances, 2015. Web. <https://www.thebalance.com/nato-purpose-history-members-and-alliances-3306116>.