Afghanistan and NATO: Forging the 21st Century Alliance

The NATO-led operation in Afghanistan is challenging an alliance born in the Cold War to defend security in the twenty-first century. It has sparked intense debate on how to share risks and burdens more fairly and equitably, and how to modernize operational capabilities.

On February 29, the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings welcomed NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer for a discussion on the effectiveness of the International Security Assistance Force operation in Afghanistan and what is needed to achieve success for NATO and the international community as a whole. The NATO secretary general also previewed the upcoming Bucharest summit, which will be crucial to the future of the international effort in Afghanistan, as well as a milestone in NATO’s ongoing transformation.

Prior to his appointment as NATO secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer was the minister of foreign affairs of the Netherlands. He is the eleventh NATO secretary general and took up his duties in January 2004.

Listen to the full event » (mp3)