Handle with care: the limits and prospects of NATO partnership policy

NATO partnership policy now figures high among the Alliance’s diplomatic initiatives. Originated as an ad hoc experiment to engage former communist countries, partnerships have later evolved into a broad and articulated network including more than fourty states and International Organizations. Especially after the 2010 strategic review, partnerships represent one of NATO’s main instruments to enhance cooperative security. However, such ambitious goals do not seem to be backed by a coherent long-term strategy: on the contrary, the evolution and rationale of NATO partnership policy seem to be born out serendipity rather than design. So, 25 years after its inception, very few would object that such a policy presents mixed results. The aim of this paper is to discuss the promises and limits of NATO partnership policy. In order to articulate a balanced assessment, we will proceed as follows: after a short introduction on the main puzzles raised by the object of analysis, we will present a survey of the main partnerships. Departing from this background, we will take South Caucasus and the MENA region as case studies. Finally, by the light of this experience, we will offer a general framework to develop policy guidelines aimed at improving the quality of NATO partnership policy