Constructing a New Consensus

SINCE THE END OF THE COLD WAR, THE FUTURE OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) AND THE FUTURE OF CANADA'S PART IN NATO IS BY NO MEANS CLEAR. THE CONTEMPORARY POLITICS OF NATO HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY THE ATTEMPT TO CONSTRUCT A NEW RELEVANT ROLE FOR NATO. ONE ISSUE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE IN THIS PROCESS IS THE QUESTION OF ENLARGING THE MEMBERSHIP OF NATO TO INCLUDE COUNTRIES FROM CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE. THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT HAS INDICATED THAT IT FAVORS ENLARGEMENT. HOWEVER, THE PROSPECT OF NATO EXPANSION RAISES A NUMBER OF CHALLENGES TO THE FUTURE ROLE OF CANADA IN THE ALLIANCE. THIS IS BECAUSE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE WEST EUROPEANS AND THE EAST EUROPEANS COULD MARGINALIZE CANADA IN NATO. CANADA'S INTERESTS IN EUROPE ARE SUCH THAT CANADA MUST BE WARY OF ANY POTENTIAL CHANGE IN EUROPEAN SECURITY RELATIONS. HOWEVER, IF CANADIAN INTERESTS ARE TO BE PROTECTED IN NATO, CANADA MUST REAFFIRM ITS COMMITMENT TO THE ALLIANCE BY BACKING THIS COMMITMENT WITH CREDIBLE ACTIONS.