By CEV Magazine team

On the eve of the 60th anniversary, it seems that NATO lacks solidarity and common vision on strategic priorities in future, alike the relations with Russia and the eventual enlargement of the Alliance, as experts estimate. Shortly before the NATO Summit, which is about to be held on April 3-4 in Strasbourg and Kehl, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies has announced the study Finding a path away from NATO`s de-solidarisation, the purpose of which is to make a draft of a new military alliance`s strategic concept, since the current one dates from 1999. According to this study, NATO faces with "strategic necessity" in order to reconcile its traditional role (providing of its members` security) and new challenges, like economic crisis, Arctic`s recourse race, as well a resurgent Russia and China.

However, this study implies the divergence between NATO members, very similar to the one within the European Union. Some Alliance members see Russia as their security threat, particularly ever since the gas crisis and the escalation of war in Georgia; others see Russia as their necessary partner. Beside that, NATO Alliance members are not in accordance with another inevitable and undesirable issue - the NATO enlargement.

The enlargement toward Georgia and Ukraine is still considered to be the biggest obstacle in relations between NATO and Russia, and that issue is put aside for a while, although this matter waits to be resolved in future.

During the presentation of this study in Brussels-based think tank Security and Defence Agenda, Hungarian ambassador to NATO Zoltan Martinusz has supported NATO enlargement policy, on the basis of which his country became an Alliance member after the Iron Curtain fell.

"NATO has a strong role in promoting transformation and changes, and political transformation of Eastern Europe was one of the historic successes of NATO, done hundred percent by political, not military means," ambassador Martinusz said.

He dismissed the idea that Eastern European members refuse to transform their forces to be more expeditionary and deployable abroad, but prefer to keep more "static" troupes which could defend them from a classical terrestrial invasion, alluding to the one Georgia faced last summer.

"We do not have static forces anymore. Hungary borders allies only, and from hundreds of tanks, we only have six, for training purposes," he added.

Ex-Eastern block countries however, particularly Baltic republics and Poland, see Russia as a threat, despite the NATO`s intention to find a way to strengthen its relations with Russia.

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer thinks that Russia doesn`t stand as a threat to the Alliance, despite fundamental dissimilarities. In his interview for TV network CNN Scheffer pointed that Russia should not be presented as a threat by NATO, admitting that good relations with this country may be of a great significance for the Alliance. On the other hand, Scheffer welcomed Russian leaders` statements that Moscow intends not to represent NATO as an aggressive organisation.

Experts are waiting to see whether the NATO leaders will discuss on the nature of Alliance`s relations toward the United Nations, since German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called upon "revolutionary" transformation of NATO. Merkel stressed that the military alliance needs to cooperate more often with civilian organisations, alike the United Nations or European Union.

"I do not see a global NATO. The Alliance is and will be focused on collective security of north-Atlantic partners," she stressed.

But security experts believe that the time is right for paying attention to global economic crisis which jeopardises European security. The possibilities of Eurozone break-up seems not to be a taboo issue in the past few months, concerning financial troubles some EU member countries face with, alike Ireland, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain, for they have agreed to accept common currency and now they`re making effort to stabilise the accrued deficit.

The director of The Hague Centre for the Strategic Studies Rob de Wijk says that the potential Eurozone break-up, which happens to be the major speculation within financial circles, could significantly influence on European security and defence.

"We don`t know yet what the outcome of the financial and economic crisis would be. If Eurozone breaks up - and that possibility exists - then it will surely affect defence and security in Europe. But crisis could also lead to more integration. It could go both ways," said the director of The Hague Centre.

It is still unclear however whether the final decision on the new general secretary`s choice will be announced during the summit, although this task seemed to be finished and although the Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen was seen as Scheffer`s successor. Turkey`s disapproval has slowed down the process, because the official Ankara opposes the election of Rasmussen, for in 2006 he was the one who took the side of freedom of speech and free media, when prophet Muhammad cartoons were published in a Danish newspaper, which offended Muslims all around the world.

If Turkey decides to officially veto the Rasmussen`s election, who was seen by some media as a new NATO Secretary-General, and that will surely be another argument proving the differences inside the Alliance, particularly because the Danish Prime Minister enjoys the support of USA, France, Germany and Great Britain.

Canadian Minister of Defence Peter MacKey, Foreign Minister of Poland Radek Sikorsky and his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Stoere were also seen as potential candidates for the Secretary-General position.

NATO members will certainly have a good reason to celebrate during an upcoming summit, for the return of France among the Alliance is expected after 43 years, as well as the official approach of Croatia and Albania to this military organisation.