ВОСЬМА СТРАТЕГІЧНА КОНЦЕПЦІЯ НАТО 2022 РОКУ:  АНАЛІЗ, ПОРІВНЯННЯ, ОГЛЯД ЧИННИКІВ

D. Yu. Sokolov-Rudakov

doi:10.32782/2707-5206.2025.40.22

D. Yu. Sokolov-Rudakov Private Higher Educational Institution “Kyiv University of Culture” https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9578-7773

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32782/2707-5206.2025.40.22

Keywords: NATO, strategic concept, deterrence, defense, Alliance, escalation, threat, analysis

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of NATO’s strategic concepts since 1949, with particular emphasis on the Eighth Strategic Concept adopted in2022. The study examines the historical background, thematic priorities, and security challenges that shaped each of the previous seven strategic concepts of the Alliance and compares them with the latest edition. The novelty of the research lies in the combination of retrospective analysis with the current political context, which includes the growing threats posed by the Russian Federation, the People’s Republic of China, terrorism, cyberattacks, and technological competition. The paper explores the influence of analytical centers (think tanks), particularly the reports “NATO 2030: United for a New Era” and “Peace Research Perspectives on NATO 2030,” on the formation of the new concept.The approaches of these reports–conservative and skeptical–towards defense, deterrence, dialogue, and security priorities are analyzed. It is shown that the 2022 concept reflects the dominance of the conservative approach, based on the necessity of strengthening the military component, especially on NATO’s eastern flank, and reinforcing nuclear deterrence. The research investigates how the new strategy emerged as a response to the new geopolitical reality shaped by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It highlights how NATO’s rhetoric and strategic logic have transformed in the post-bipolar period, particularly regarding cooperation, openness to new members, and the reassessment of the U.S. role in Euro-Atlantic security. Key NATO documents, summit declarations, independent expert reports, and materials from leading international media have been analyzed. The article evaluates the relevance of the new strategy to contemporary global realities, traces the continuity of the Alliance’s core values, and demonstrates the cyclical return to the doctrine of deterrence under conditions of escalating threats–reinforcing NATO’s role as a key instrument of collective security in the Euro-Atlantic space.

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