New Solution Seeking for a Timeless Issue Burden Sharing: Smart Defense and NATO

Abstract

Smart defense is a concept which was formed to be a solution for an old issue within the Alliance - burden-sharing - in the framework of the negative impact of the global financial crisis. In this sense, Rasmussen named the concept in 2011. Smart defense has been made into a fundamental element of the Alliance's defense planning policy over time, by making many programs connected such as cyber defense, Connected Forces Initiative, missile defense systems which are components of the Alliance's military transformation. The aim of this article is to examine the smart defense which is a significant concept in terms of the future of the Alliance as well as the policies and processes which have been hugely influential on the creation of this concept. In this study, the concept is evaluated as a reflection of the changes of US foreign policy to NATO.