Eastern European Nations Are Building New Economic And Security Structures (From 1945)

The postwar order of Europe was built on a series of economic, political, and security pillars, but in recent years it has become clear that the foundations of those pillars have begun to shift. The economic preeminence of the West is being challenged as never before. The continent’s political center of gravity is shifting eastward. Well-documented weaknesses in the military capabilities of NATO countries have cast doubt on the alliance’s ability to deter conflict and defeat aggression. Now, some governments, particularly in Eastern Europe, are beginning to pursue strategies to build new military, economic and even political structures while still seeking to maintain their traditional relationships with NATO and the European Union. Poland is leading the way, building up its military, collaborating with the U.S., and sponsoring new regional security and economic relationships and agreements. I have written more about this here.