NATO has been a cornerstone of security in Europe--and of U.S. foreign policy--for six decades. But its ability to continue playing such a central role is unclear. James M. Goldgeier takes a sober look at what the alliance and its members must do to maintain NATO's relevance in the face of today's strategic environment.

NATO's European members are more worried about a reassertive Russia than the threat posed by Afghanistan, says expert Robert E. Hunter. This has become the basis for an "unspoken bargain" on supporting the Afghan war effort, he says.

With waning public support at home, writes Mort Rosenblum, European leaders face the challenge of standing firm to their commitment in Afghanistan.

James M. Goldgeier discusses NATO's 60th anniversary.

Middle East Regional Editor Christopher Dickey, Contributing Editor John Barry, and Moscow Bureau Chief Owen Matthews report that Russia is weaker than it looks. Most NATO leaders insist the world is too interdependent to allow another cold war. Russia is not the Soviet Union. And Western powers don't want to be drawn into a game of bluff that will only inflate Vladimir Putin's prestige.

A Council on Foreign Relations Meeting with President Viktor Yushchenko of Ukraine.

Russia's invasion of Georgia has rubbed raw relations with the West, complicating cooperation in several crucial areas.

This Belfer Center report discusses the current policy structures in place to combat climate change and international improvements that can be made.

International institutions are desperately needed and woefully ineffective, argues Michael Gerson.

Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall notes that, “NATO is actually doing far less than it should be doing. The current pace of operations creates a crisis-like environment in which the urgent crowds out the important.”

Pledges of more resources for Afghanistan have buoyed hopes for a rejuvenated NATO mission. Yet concerns persist about the alliance’s viability there.

NATO leaders pitted the credibility of their alliance to the ongoing effort to stabilize Afghanistan at their summit in Riga, but failed to resolve disputes that keep some major member states—including Germany, Italy, Spain, and France—from serious combat duty there.

With talk of deploying NATO peacekeepers to patrol the Lebanese border, the alliance is tackling new challenges outside of Europewhile looking to recruit new members. Not everyone, however, supports a larger NATO.

Michael Moran reports on the alliance's struggle to handle a much smaller mission.