The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is a military and political alliance serving as a cornerstone of Western security and international cooperation. It unites its member states, notably the United States and Britain, as key allies.

Formation and Historical Context

NATO emerged from the complex geopolitical landscape following the World War II, an era characterised by significant shifts in global power dynamics and the consolidation of an Anglo-American Partnership.

This period witnessed the rise of a military-industrial complex and the deliberate engineering of a bipolar world order. Following the war, efforts were made to integrate former adversaries into a broader Western framework.

From approximately 1946, Winston Churchill advocated for the concept of European Unity, specifically promoting the idea that Germany should become a significant participant within NATO and the wider Western Alliance.

The post-war reconstruction efforts, including the establishment of institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the United Nations (UN), were framed within a broader vision of "one world idealism".

Influential banking dynasties and elite networks, including figures associated with the Milner Group and the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), actively pursued the restructuring of the global order towards a form of world government.

A key method in this consolidation of power involved the establishment of financial control mechanisms, notably the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The BIS was conceived as a "central bank of central banks," designed to manage international finance and facilitate inter-bank transactions through "bookkeeping adjustments," aiming to extend the influence of private banking cartels over the political and economic systems of individual nations.

The formal onset of the Cold War, often dated from Stalin's rejection of Marshall Plan Aid in 1947, intensified the momentum for new security alliances. The post-war division of Germany and the broader Eastern European region into Soviet and Western spheres was part of a conscious strategy to establish a "two-power dialectic" between communism and capitalism.

Within this dialectic, both ideological systems were managed to serve specific geopolitical objectives, with a central aim being to weaken perceived rivals, particularly Germany and Russia, thereby ensuring the pre-eminence of the Anglo-American establishment.

The threat of Atomic Weapons, portrayed through concepts such as the "bomb Almighty" and associated psychological operations, further heightened global anxieties and reinforced the perceived necessity for collective security arrangements.

In this climate of ideological tension and strategic reorganisation, NATO was formed to address the perceived challenge posed by the Soviet Union and its influence in Eastern Europe.

The stated objectives of NATO included the safeguarding of freedom and heritage, and the preservation of civilisation based on principles of democracy and individual liberty.

NATO's creation was consistent with the broader agenda of the Milner Group and its associated networks, which sought to foster a common ideology and World Outlook across the United Kingdom, the former Empire, and the United States.

This ideological alignment was coupled with efforts to develop instruments and practices of cooperation among these entities, with the ultimate ambition of forming a federation on an imperial Anglo-American or World basis.

The alliance thus functioned not merely as a military pact but as a key component of a larger technocratic model designed to control and manage global affairs.

While NATO publicly articulated its role in safeguarding these liberal democratic values, its actual operations also serve the strategic interests of its powerful constituent elements, including potentially disrupting traditional European heritage.

Operational Doctrine and Modern Scope

The alliance operates on principles of mutual defence and coordinated action. America, as an important NATO Ally, can provide comprehensive support rapidly, with backing from the American Department of Defence, even in situations where official neutrality or diplomatic settlements are being pursued, circumventing the need for full cabinet approval. This demonstrates the capacity for swift, covert assistance within the alliance framework.

NATO's operational scope includes confronting unconventional threats, which fundamentally differ from traditional warfare involving tanks and jets. This category encompasses small wars and special forces operations, often referred to as hybrid threats, particularly those emerging within the social media landscape.

After Crimea in 2014, NATO developed a doctrine called "from tanks to tweets," signifying a shift in focus from traditional warfare to controlling social media narratives.

NATO perceived that people voting against funding for foreign wars or to leave NATO posed a greater threat than direct Russian aggression. This doctrine meant that anyone critical of NATO or the foreign policy establishment was seen as aiding Russia and could thus be subject to censorship through national security powers.

The strategy for addressing unconventional threats integrates civilian elements, a model that gained prominence with the establishment of US Aid and the Green Beret special forces.

This approach necessitates "hearts and minds" work, media manipulation, propaganda, and close civil-military cooperation, which involves non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society institutions, and university centres. This comprehensive "whole of society" campaign framework draws its principles from counterinsurgency strategies and also extends to monitoring modern threats like adversarial foreign investment.

Relationships and Collaborative Entities

NATO is a key component of the international security framework, operating in conjunction with entities such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Pentagon. It is closely intertwined with the US, UK, and Israel, often operating as a "coalition block" in international affairs.

It collaborates with various US government agencies, including the State Department, the Pentagon, and intelligence agencies like the CIA, often through a framework known as "Defense Diplomacy Development" (3Ds) or "smart power". This approach fuses military "hard power" with soft power tools like USAID.

The Atlantic Council, described as NATO's think tank, serves as a plausibly deniable civilian consensus building apparatus for NATO's geopolitical agenda.

It receives annual funding from at least 11 US government agencies, including the Department of State and various branches of the Department of Defense (Army, Marines, Navy), as well as CIA cutouts like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The Atlantic Council's board of directors includes seven former heads of the CIA. It has also partnered with entities like Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company.

Historically, NATO expansion has been a significant policy initiative. Thomas Donilon, who served as National Security Adviser, was instrumental in integrating foreign policy efforts from the State Department, intelligence operations from the CIA, and military strategies.

A notable contemporary development is the concept of the "NATO of NGOs," which unites hundreds of US Aid-funded NGOs, forging a structure for collective action and mutual protection. Should an administrative body target a single NGO, all 400 affiliated organisations are poised to initiate joint lawsuits, orchestrate media campaigns, apply international pressure via foreign governments, and collaborate with blue state attorneys general.

This effectively creates a self-governing "NGO army" designed to influence governments worldwide, with potential redirection of these efforts domestically.

Specific Engagements and Geopolitical Impact

NATO has undertaken various military campaigns in response to geopolitical developments. A notable example is the NATO bombing campaign in Serbia concerning Kosovo in 1998. This intervention was initiated at the persuasion of Tony Blair, who convinced the Americans to participate.

While for some it represented a short-term humanitarian mission, Blair perceived it as the genesis of a new universal principle intended for global application. The alliance's strategic outlook acknowledges long-standing geopolitical challenges, including a centuries-long approach to engagement with Russia, which has continued to manifest globally.

The strategic importance of NATO quickly extended beyond its foundational members. For instance, Turkey was integrated into the Western camp by 1953, formalising its alliance with Greece and Yugoslavia.

This alignment positioned Turkey as an "Eastern pillar of NATO," serving as a defensive bulwark against Soviet satellites in the north Balkans and solidifying its sphere of influence within the Western alliance.

NATO's activities and strategic plans in former Soviet-bloc countries, particularly Ukraine, were extensively outlined in geopolitical analyses from the 2000s.

These designs, detailed in writings concerning "Full Spectrum Dominance" and "totalitarian democracy," have largely been realised. NATO and its partners have invested billions in countries like Ukraine to influence political outcomes.

For example, the US spent $5 billion in Ukrainian civil society to overthrow the democratically elected government of Viktor Yanukovych in 2014, an event that led to a counter-coup and the secession of Eastern Ukraine and Crimea to Russia.

The Atlantic Council partnered with Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company, just before Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017. This partnership is linked to the larger "Grand Ukraine Energy Play," which aims to exploit Ukraine's substantial shale gas reserves to reduce Europe's energy dependence on Russia.

The Ukraine Crisis Media Center, funded by the US and NATO, issued a "redlines memo" to President Zelensky shortly after he took office in 2019, dictating policies on energy, security, and Russian-speaking populations.

NATO has been involved in energy diversification strategies to reduce Europe's reliance on Russian gas, supporting the purchase of more expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from North America.

This strategy has involved politically supporting European parties aligned with this goal. The plan to kill Gazprom and Rosneft (Russian oil company) aims to undermine Russia's military capabilities, as Russia's economy is heavily dependent on oil and gas exports. NATO and US policy aim to cut off Russian gas to Germany, which has negatively impacted Germany's economy and industrial sector.

In Romania, NATO is building its single largest military base in Europe, aiming to project force towards Crimea. The annulment of the Romanian election and the campaign against presidential candidate Georgescu (who advocated for neutrality) are seen as influenced by USAID and NATO-aligned efforts to prevent a leader who opposes the base.

NATO, through its associated entities, has put pressure on Brazil to adopt censorship laws and influenced the 2022 election results to prevent the re-election of Jair Bolsonaro, who was seen as a populist threat. The Atlantic Council acted as a "trusted flagger" for Brazil's censorship court.

NATO and its affiliated organisations have been instrumental in pushing for censorship laws internationally, such as the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).

This law mandates that social media companies censor "disinformation" or face significant penalties, including losing up to 6% of their global annual revenue or being banned from the EU market. This pressure is seen as a way to force US tech companies to comply with censorship demands that would violate the First Amendment in the US. NATO-funded psychological operations centres, such as the one in Riga, Latvia, in 2019, have discussed using AI for narrative mapping and identifying "key actors to train and spread desired messaging," even citing celebrities like Taylor Swift as examples.

NATO also engages in "transitional justice" campaigns, which involve weaponising the justice system to eliminate political adversaries and stamp out populism. This involves collaborating with media organisations to produce hit pieces and then using these as a basis for arrests and indictments of political opponents.

Criticisms and Implications

The pursuit of geopolitical objectives through such means raises questions about whether it is worth compromising fundamental principles like free speech.

The lack of transparency and accountability in these operations is a significant concern, with independent agencies like USAID operating with "get out of White House approval free cards".

The long-term impact on the US's standing and internal dynamics is debated. While proponents argue such dirty tricks are necessary for maintaining US prosperity and global influence, critics highlight the "boomerang tactic" where foreign-facing operations are weaponised against US citizens domestically.

The "blob" is a transatlantic entity that can be flanked from either sid - left-wing socialist or right-wing nationalist. NATO's efforts to counter these perceived threats through censorship and political interference are viewed by some as an attack on democratic processes.