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Considerations on Transatlantic Security International Conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION Vol. XXV No 1 2019 CONSIDERATIONS ON TRANSATLANTIC SECURITY Mihai Marcel NEAG “Nicolae Bălcescu” Land Forces Academy, Sibiu, Romania [email protected] Abstract:The study focuses on the security of the transatlantic space and the role played by its various components in ensuring the stability, security and development of the countries in this space. The role played by the North Atlantic Alliance in the transatlantic space and beyond, as well as contributing to securing the European continent, is also avoided. At the same time, in order to complete the picture of the transatlantic relations, it is necessary to mention the way in which Russia is present in the international relations of South-eastern Europe. The results of this theoretical approach can contribute to creating an overall image of the transatlantic security community and identifying the transatlantic space from a static and dynamic point of view. Keywords: security community, transatlantic security, security relations 1. Introduction military, technological and economic The events that characterize the current resources available to the countries of the security environment have confirmed that transatlantic space and the political-military insecurity, uncertainty and unpredictability axis, which makes a direct link between persist. It is therefore necessary to rethink these capabilities and military and policy the geopolitical and geostrategic decision-makers. environment in terms of the interests, The strategic dimension of transatlantic diversity of conventional and non- security seeks to highlight the differences or conventional, asymmetric and hybrid threats, approaches between security policy actors involved, and reconfigure new decisions contained in national security strategies to effectively manage these strategies or international organizations, with complex situations. the strategic culture these countries or The concepts of security have the role of organizations have developed over time. The explaining and arguing the positions and political dimension highlights the attitudes of the political-military leaders complexity of the transatlantic security space towards the events in the transatlantic and and how certain variables can influence external internal security environment. The positively or negatively security regardless operational, strategic and political analysis of the operational or strategic dimension of of the transatlantic space can explain the the security community. factors that structurally and institutionally influence the security relations in this 2. Concepts of Transatlantic Security security community. The operational Transatlantic security appears to be a dimension of transatlantic security focuses particular area of reference. It joins a on the analysis of two complementary axes: theoretical concept derived from the study of the axis of capabilities that includes the international relations, a model derived from DOI: 10.2478/kbo-2019-0019 © 2015. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License. 114 the historical reality of building relations of transatlantic space security, as threats between the United States of America and come from outside and is important for Western European countries after the understanding the processes that influence Second World War. Transatlantic security, transatlantic relations. together with economics and finance, is a The geopolitical changes in recent years major focus of transatlantic relations. have prompted US and European analysts to Specialty literature deals with the two speak of a “division of labor” outside of the chained components, precisely because of transatlantic security space in an attempt to the importance of security for transatlantic unleash the transatlantic dialogue in the relations. The concept of transatlantic sphere of NATO-EU internal relations. This security offers both a theoretical “division of labor” would enable the US to contextualization and the identification of focus on the new great power of the Asia- the geographic space of analysis through a Pacific region, while the European partners comprehensive approach to the factors and should create a strategic relationship with the actors that constitute and contribute to Russian Federation and Turkey. transatlantic security. The analysis of the security of the The way of approaching transatlantic transatlantic space suffers from the lack of security is different on the two sides of the an integrative reference system in which the Atlantic. The first, represented by the crisis contribution of one or other of the States to of the transatlantic relations in 2003 and due the joint security effort can be assessed on to US intervention in Iraq, brought to the the basis of similar criteria. If the US forefront the contradiction between the US contribution to transatlantic security is clear, and its traditional European partners over the at least at the capabilities level, the opportunity and the legality of the contribution of the other transatlantic intervention, even questioning the security countries to this joint effort is institutional security partnership. The second judged by different criteria in which, in most issue of the ESDP (European Security and cases, quantitative factors are ignored or Defense Policy) development has coagulated omitted in favoring qualitative research around the relationship between interpretations. NATO and EU, the interaction between the The concept of security community emerged two institutions and the responsibilities of in the early 1950s when the Cold War threw each. the Western and Soviet worlds on both sides Transatlantic security has become almost of the Iron Curtain. The role of this concept synonymous with NATO, turning this was given by trying to find solutions to institution into a barometer of the avoid escalating any conflict by creating a transatlantic security relationship. different perspective where peace, as a goal Constrained by the institutional barriers of in itself, would be the primary element. NATO and ESDP, the analysis of In the theory of international relations, the transatlantic security is reduced to a limited term security community was introduced by interpretation by eliminating some Richard W. van Wagenen in 1952 that theoretical factors, actors or interpretations. proposed a vision of a world without wars Thus, the transatlantic security perceived as by initiating an integration process that an interaction between NATO and the EU “allows for a sense of community focuses on internal functional aspects, on accompanied by formal institutions and how European security ambitions seek to practices and informal sufficiently powerful find an autonomous institutional expression and widespread to ensure a peaceful change capable of operating independently or in within a group” [1]. cooperation with NATO. This type of In the socio-constructivist vision of security approach highlights the internal dimension communities, Karl W. Deutsch approaches 115 the concept of a security community through and interests. Under these circumstances, two perspectives: the first, in which any state would be a potential security issue, humanity is perceived as an unbroken string the only solution to securing its own security of wars that will continue indefinitely, the remains the accumulation of a superior second as a development continuation of the economic and military capability. society that will live in peace in one The security approach, known as structural community [2]. From a security point of offensive realism, highlights the idea that view, the security community exists in a real states, and mainly major powers, are forced space where the possibility of violence and to maximize their “relative” power to other war is permanent. Deutsch emphasizes the states to secure their security and survival. primordial importance of political and States, using appropriate circumstances and administrative capabilities and the well-defined strategies, can develop their importance of links and communication relative power without triggering counter- between policymakers and institutions, responses from other states, thus turning into providing effective communication channels regional leaders. This security approach sees both horizontally between different security the need of the state to secure a hegemonic community units and vertically between position as the main cause of international relevant policy levels [2]. Deutsch insecurity. States resort to blackmail or war emphasizes the importance of economic to secure the necessary resources or to stop development as a prerequisite for other states from gaining access to them. maintaining a security community where When they are unable to achieve their own economic conditions allow the equalization goals, states are in conflict with other states, of living standards within the community temporarily maximizing their own “relative” and an advantageous exchange that results in power. In Stephen Walt's opinion, “in an common benefits within an integrated anarchic system states seek to form alliances community [2]. This process of equalization to protect themselves” [4]. would translate into the emergence of a Liberalism is inextricably linked to two strong middle class and would enable the concepts. The first states that peace is more community to become more international. cost-effective than war, trade being a much Deutsch, however, does
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