A prominent peace and conflict researcher has expressed concerns that the recent US military strikes against Iran may have unintended consequences for the NATO alliance. Christopher Daase, a scholar at the Leibniz Institute for Peace and Conflict Research, believes that the attacks have added an extra layer of complexity for the alliance, ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague.
Daase, in an interview with the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, questioned whether the US still represents the interests of its European allies. “While one may welcome the containment of Iran’s nuclear program, one must also fear the consequences of this preventive war for international law” he said.
The expert warned that the US’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, allowing any country to launch a war in the name of preventing a future threat. “This may not be a problem for the US, but it is for Europe” he stated.
Daase does not hold out high hopes for the upcoming NATO summit, saying that it is uncertain whether the US will reiterate its commitment to the alliance. “Even a non-scandalous outcome would be a success” he noted.
The researcher also emphasized the need for European allies to strengthen their own defense capabilities, as the US’s role in the alliance is likely to diminish in the long term. “It is clear that the US wants to reduce its role in the long run. What is important for Europeans is to know the steps being taken in that direction” he said.
Daase believes that the values shared by Europeans and the US are rapidly eroding under the Trump administration, which has abandoned its stabilizing role in the world. “The US has lost its function as a stabilizing factor in the world” he said, adding that the administration’s actions are accelerating the country’s global decline. Moscow, he noted, is likely to be closely monitoring the situation.