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POST 9/11, the US' war against terror has reduced NATO to a political organisation, and also put a question mark on its future role in global affairs.

The debate on NATO's waning influence in resolving political and military conflicts has increased after the unilateral military initiative taken by the US post 9/11. This was despite the swift response by NATO, which declared the attack on the US as an attack on all allies. More important, the alliance's support did not have any geographical limits or conditions, but the US turned its back.

The US rejection, however, highlighted the need to rejuvenate NATO. It will be disastrous for Europe, if NATO becomes a global political organisation without a role to play during crises. For the US, too, the organisation is important as it promotes its interests in Europe. The problem, however, has been the difference in the perceptions on NATO. The European allies see NATO as a defence and crisis management organisation, whereas the US looks at it as a useful political instrument. Reasons for the differing perceptions are varied. One reason is that after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US did not feel the need to have a strong NATO. To rejuvenate the organisation, the regional imbalances will have to be addressed. Europe may have to ensure a comprehensive improvement in its military capabilities. There is a feeling among the alliance partners that NATO is hardly an alliance of equals, and Washington has deliberately fostered European dependency to preserve American hegemony in Europe. However, even after the demise of the Soviet threat the US does not see a retrenched role for itself in Europe. Perhaps, the US kept the NATO alliance intact to prevent its European allies forming an alternative regional association.

There is, however, no doubt, that the future of NATO lies in making it more of a military body. Therefore, the realignment of the political and military relations within NATO becomes inevitable. Presently, it is felt that there is wide difference between NATO's political and military arms. The Washington Treaty recognises the North Atlantic Council as the sole political authority of the alliance, and the Military Committee (MC) as the senior authority for all military matters. Therefore, the NAC and the MC must be restructured within the NATO framework.

What options are available for rejuvenating NATO? Experts feel that NATO needs to focus on its military capabilities and become a more equal partnership. The reforms, therefore, have to be directed towards:

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