What have been the consequences of NATO enlargement for European security? To the vindication of its critics, the consequences appear disastrous. Insecurity pervades Europe while NATO is in crisis with a Russia justifiably aggrieved by broken promises and the overreach of liberal hegemony. This insecurity is especially troubling because NATO’s newer commitments are indefensible. In this essay, I evaluate these criticisms of NATO enlargement and advance three claims. First, intentionally or not, NATO enlargement has fulfilled a reasonable need to hedge against Russian resurgence. Critics of NATO enlargement themselves conceded that Russia could become revisionist once it reconstitutes itself. Second, NATO enlargement still allows for mutually beneficial cooperation with Russia. It has not been responsible for Russia’s internal political development and aggressive foreign policy choices. Finally, NATO enlargement does not necessitate expensive deterrence measures to secure its most vulnerable members. NATO enlargement thus has hugely benefited European security.

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感谢北约的扩大

北约扩大对欧洲安全有何后果？对于其批评者的辩护，后果似乎是灾难性的。在北约陷入危机之际，动荡不安席卷了整个欧洲，而俄罗斯则因信守诺言和对自由主义霸权的过度屈服而感到委屈。这种不安全感尤其令人不安，因为北约的新承诺是无可辩驳的。在本文中，我评估了对北约扩大的批评，并提出了三点主张。首先，无论有意还是无意，北约的扩张都满足了对冲俄罗斯复兴的合理需求。北约扩大的批评者自己承认，俄罗斯一旦改组就可能成为修正主义者。其次，北约的扩大仍然允许与俄罗斯进行互利合作。它对俄罗斯的内部政治发展和激进的外交政策选择概不负责。最后，北约扩大并不需要采取昂贵的威慑措施来确保其最脆弱成员的安全。因此，北约的扩大极大地有益于欧洲安全。