Panelists engaged in a spirited discussion around the future of NATO, giving consideration to its leadership role in the Libyan mission, and paying attention to the issue of how non-contributing members view the alliance. They also spoke the organization’s value to the world.
Panelists also discussed some of the big questions and important issues that will need to be addressed at the 2012 summit in Chicago—especially around the cooperation of established and emerging democracies, and their dedication to the alliance.
Closing out this year’s Forum, panelists shared their thoughts on what the emergence of new and growing democracies means for the international community. Rising powers such as Brazil, India and Japan, among others, can be seen as new and exciting allies of Western leaders, but questions were raised about how much these countries would be willing to contribute to international security.
A dominating theme of the discussion was how emerging and established democracies might gain a better understanding of each other’s roles and abilities in creating a more secure world.