The story of NATO began in 1947. At that time, Britain and France signed the Dunker Agreement, according to which they united for a possible German invasion. In 1948, the group expanded with the same goal of defending against Germany, and the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg were added. At the end of the same year, the five countries formed a joint defense organization of the West.
There are two points to be made about these two agreements. First, the United States had no place in the treaty, and second, that they were united against Germany and not against the Soviet Union.
History of NATO Establishment
NATO was established in 1949 following the siege of Berlin in 1948. NATO canceled Western defense agreements and focused not only on the dangers of the new military Germany, but also focused on the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
From the US perspective, NATO has made many suggestions. The launch of NATO was, in fact, a message to the Soviet Union that the United States supports the division of power in Europe that was endangered by the siege of Berlin. It was a way of reconciling France and Britain against West German weapons. It was also a way to control allies’ military operations.
Political leaders and the majority of Western Europeans were relatively satisfied with NATO’s creation. For them, the NATO pact was a guarantee that the US would back them if the Soviet Union wants to violate the Yalta agreement. France was now ready to accept armed West Germany. Charles de Gaulle ended his military presence in NATO in 1966, and this led to the transfer of NATO headquarters from Paris to Brussels.
In the early 1970s, Western European countries not only worried about Germany but also thought that the Soviet Union was no longer a threat of imminent attack. Many countries have been thinking about how to align Stalin with their countries. The idea expanded in the 1980s with the creation of a gas pipeline from the Soviet Union to Western Europe, even accepted by the British was ruled by Margaret Thatcher.
This tension intensified with the collapse of communism in 1989 and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since NATO was formed to counter the Soviet Union ruled by the Communist Party, what could it do now with the collapse of Communism
America’s Role in NATO Action
America had a new role for NATO. The United States also intended not to allow Europe to achieve autonomy without the presence of the United States, and to prevent the creation of a joint European house, to which Russia is a part, under Mikhail Gorbachev’s proposal.
Under such circumstances, NATO expansion was the first question that arose. The presence of countries no longer associated with the Soviet Union and Russia was raised in NATO. The US was quick to try to get these countries into NATO. Western European countries were less inclined to this trend. The newly independent states saw NATO membership as a way to connect with the United States and support against Russia and a solution to economic problems.
The US viewed the presence of these countries in NATO as an obstacle to their reunification with Russia, but more importantly the US considered their presence in NATO a guarantee that Europe would not be separated from its old American ally. Georgia is among those countries trying to join the pact.
Beginning of Georgia’s relationship with NATO
The Republic of Georgia began diplomatic relations with NATO in 1994 and made many efforts to join the military pact. The main reason for this, of course, is the border with Russia. The history of the Russian invasion has also made Georgia’s bid to join NATO more serious.
However, Georgia’s membership in NATO has been delayed. The first reason for this delay is the geographical and geopolitical position of Georgia. Georgia’s proximity to Russia’s southern border may be one of the main obstacles to Georgia’s NATO accession, which has so far been explicitly criticized by Russian officials.
Russia is a powerful country that has repeatedly violated Georgia’s national sovereignty with its military force and has recognized the independence of Georgia’s two autonomous regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia without regard to international principles and rules.
Russia’s role in Georgia’s accession to NATO
By showing its iron fist, Russia intended to warn both Georgia and NATO to pursue such a treaty, but just as Russia has long-term strategies to maintain its sphere of influence in the South Caucasus and Central Asia, the EU and the United States are expanding NATO. They have major projects, including the transfer of energy (oil and gas) to Europe.
Russia’s opposition to the expansion of NATO to the East and subsequent integration of the Caucasian states into the organization, which includes Georgia, is one of the key principles in its strategic strategy. One of the benchmarks that could describe the situation of Georgia joining NATO is how Russia interacts with NATO, and the extent of Russian-NATO integration plays an important role in this.
The next reason for this delay is opposition from countries such as Germany and France. Germany and France, arguing due to the fact that Russia supplies gas at cheap prices for Western Europe, NATO should have only military cooperation with Georgia, but opposes Georgia’s NATO membership.
Georgia’s Actions to Join NATO
Georgia has been sending troops to Afghanistan and Iraq to prepare for NATO membership, and has been working with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly from 1999, and has been setting up NATO-Georgia Parliamentary Council since 2008 to strengthen cooperation between Georgia and NATO.
In addition to efforts by Tbilisi officials to join NATO, the Georgian people also support the government’s decision to join this treaty, with a poll conducted by the Pulster Institute; 74% of Georgians support government efforts to join the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. But in the military dimension, NATO has also had joint military cooperation with Georgia.
The “Right Partner” military exercises are held in Georgia for four consecutive years and are developed annually. 2800 troops from Georgia, US, UK, Germany, Turkey, Slovenia, Armenia and Ukraine are present in the exercises.
Georgian economic experts believe that if Georgia joins NATO and guarantees its security vis-à-vis Russia, the attraction of foreign capital and the tourism industry will increase significantly.
