K-ISOM - Book NATO Special Forces - 70 Years of NATO - Special Forces Today

This study on NATO special operations forces aims to provide the best possible overview of the current situation. However, NATO special forces are in a state of constant change. At the time of writing, NATO has just turned 70 years old. From its early days in 1949 to today in 2019, an enormous amount has changed, even though many of NATO’s special operations forces trace their roots back to the British SAS or the British Commandos. Italy and Germany, as well as some Eastern European countries, are exceptions here. NATO’s eastward expansion has also led to very major challenges. Special forces had to be integrated and harmonized that had previously been trained and equipped under completely different conditions. Likewise, the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in eastern Ukraine confront the alliance with new threats. In addition, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization casts a restless eye on the Baltic states, which feel threatened by their large neighbor but are now an important part of NATO. NATO special operations forces must also be able to counter the new hybrid warfare. On top of this comes the integration of female SOF troopers, UAV operators and cyber specialists. However, this should not create the wrong impression. Russia remains an important political interlocutor for Europe at all levels. Due to the constant changes, this book can only be a snapshot at the time of writing, including a look back. Although SOF have strategic importance within NATO, they only function as part of a complex big picture in interaction with many other global players from all branches of the armed forces, politics, business, society, government agencies and cyberspace. NATO SOF are therefore only one aspect of a comprehensive operation, but at the same time more than just the sum of their parts.

Author: Sören Sünkler
Pages: 206
Binding: hardcover
Format: 23 cm x 32 cm
ISBN: 978-3-9815795-9-8