31 Sodobni vojaški izzivi, september 2019 – 21/št. 3
Contemporary Military Challenges, September 2019 – 21/No. 3
ZVEZA NATO KOT KOALICIJA (VOLJNIH)
Boris Rutar
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A 
COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
kot zavezništvo.
Vojaško zavezništvo, vojaška koalicija, operacije kriznega odzivanja, koncept 
concept is much more suitable for ad hoc
as a coalition rather than an alliance.
Military alliance, military coalition, crisis response operations, Framework Nation 
Povzetek
Ključne 
besede
Abstract
Key words
DOI: 10.33179/BSV.99.SVI.11.CMC.21.3.1
 32 Sodobni vojaški izzivi/Contemporary Military Challenges
Boris Rutar
has survived all the turbulent political and societal phases of the last seven decades. 
modus operandi 
and more like a coalition. 
 1 METHODOLOGY
conclusion that the latest modus operandi 
characteristics of that shift.
 2 AN ALLIANCE COMPARED TO A COALITION
Introduction
 33 Sodobni vojaški izzivi/Contemporary Military Challenges
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
 
2
and so on. 
1 
2 
something similar again in the Second World War.
 34 Sodobni vojaški izzivi/Contemporary Military Challenges
 2.1 Alliance
otherwise this would not be called an alliance. 
is obvious that the alliance also serves as a deterrent.
if the alliance has no pre-set forces. Because the alliances that operate in war are 
Boris Rutar
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 2.2 Coalition
ad hoc
that becomes the lead nation.
ad hoc
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
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public opinion. 
but the lead nation has special relationship with no-one. The numbers of coalition 
with the lead nation.3
 3 NATO AS AN ALLIANCE
3 For instance, a nation may only politically support the coalition's cause, and not actually participate in the 
military activities, but it still counts as a coalition member. This could be the case with the Coalition of the 
not participate in any activities.
4 One can argue that also Warsaw Pact was an alliance, at least by its name – Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation 
Boris Rutar
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5
between all members is implied.
the USA. 
5 
consider any country to be its adversary,” 
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
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 4 A COALITION WITHIN AN ALLIANCE
 4.1 Out of area operations
about to accept its 30th member state
NATO has begun accession preparations with North Macedonia.
Boris Rutar
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ESDI7
ad hoc 
ad hoc
 in 
ad hoc
9 
10 Stabilization Force.
11 Kosovo Force.
12 
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
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wish. The line between member and non-member state has become less and less 
ad hoc 
13 For instance, Austria in KFOR.
14 
member to member.
15 
Boris Rutar
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 4.2 Framework Nation Concept
of a coalition structure. Powerful states assumed the role of the lead nation and set 
THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
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but smart defence is linked to the framework nation. This does not mean that smart 
almost all its member states
membership.  
One of the reasons for the perception that the Alliance’s modus operandi
 Paw Research center; 
 Slovensko javno mnenje 2013; 
Survey research at 
Conclusion
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the Alliance.
cause. It is therefore more for the most powerful states to preserve and retain the 
modus 
operandi towards a coalition rather than an alliance. It was then just a matter of time 
1. Asmus, R., 2005. Reinventing NATO (yet again) politically, NATO Review.  
 
2. Crisis Management, NATO, Crisis Management.  
.
3. 
Publication, CQ Press.
4. 
for Security Studies, April. 
5. 
Analysis. 
european-army.
 
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THE NATO ALLIANCE AS A COALITION (OF THE WILLING)
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Zurich, Center for Security Studies, June. 
9. Major C., Molling C., 2014. The Framework Nation Concept; Germany’s Contribution 
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Boris Rutar