Afghanistan in context: NATO out-of-area debates in the 1990s

Abstract

NATO’s first out-of-area operations in Bosnia and Kosovo offer instructive lessons for those seeking to understand its strengths and weaknesses in post-9/11 operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere. NATO was first drawn in to Bosnia largely as a result of its developing institutional links with the UN. Once it was involved, its members soon discovered a vital interest in preserving the institution’s credibility by not withdrawing or admitting defeat. Operations in Kosovo and elsewhere in the Balkans soon followed. Despite its long-term presence in the region, NATO has remained restricted in terms of what it can contribute to multifunctional