NATO & Canada’s role in Afghanistan

Background on NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization Founded in 1949 Strategic security alliance “...keep the Russians out, the Americans in,

and the Germans down.” (first NATO secretary)

Canada was a founding member of NATO The countries allied with the USSR were part

of the Warsaw Pact

NATO vs. Warsaw

Key Changes to NATO After the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989) the

communist threat was virtually eliminated After 9/11 terrorism emerged as a new threat

for NATO to address

Exp

ansion

of NA

TO

to 28 M

emb

er Nation

s

National Interest vs. International Pressure

Don't Know5%

Strongly

Sup-port7%

Support29%

Oppose31%

Strongly Oppose

27%

Canada's support for Troops in Afghanistan (2007)

Based purely upon national interest how would the Canadian government respond to these numbers?

If NATO wants to continue action in Afghanistan through 2014, what consequences might Canada face?

View Clip