NATO’S ROLE IN COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS

By Marta Rodríguez Ramiro

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) approach to terrorism involves improving threat awareness, developing response capacities, and enhancing engagement with partner countries (North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO], 2024). While terrorism was initially not a primary concern for NATO, the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States meant a pivotal shift in its priorities, leading to the only invocation of the collective defense clause in the organization’s history (Cascone, 2022). This landmark event underscored the urgent need for a more robust counterterrorism strategy.

Consequently, although counterterrorism remains primarily a national responsibility, NATO has significantly increased its attention and resources in this area. A notable development in this direction was the establishment of the Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism position in 2023 (NATO, 2024).

NATO’s counterterrorism efforts are based on three pillars: awareness, capabilities, and engagement. In terms of awareness, NATO relies on intelligence reports from Allies and partner countries through the Joint Intelligence and Security Division and Terrorism Intelligence Cell, which collect and analyze information to assess potential threats, including trends and methods (Cascone, 2022).

To ensure sufficient capabilities to combat terrorism, NATO’s Defense Against Terrorism Program of Work and Centers of Excellence focus on weapons such as unmanned aircraft systems, improvised explosive devices, and chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear substances (NATO, 2024). The program addresses capability shortfalls and urgent requirements, supporting the achievement and maintenance of technological dominance and interoperability by focusing on joint exercises and standardizing weapons and materials (Cascone, 2022).

The engagement pillar relies on cooperation with partner countries and international organizations. Through counterterrorism dialogues, NATO assists countries in need by providing education and training to integrate defense into national counterterrorism efforts, fostering interagency work, supporting strategic communications, enhancing border security, and protecting critical infrastructures (NATO, 2024). Some of NATO’s most engaged partners include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Jordan, Mauritania, Moldova, Tunisia, and Ukraine (NATO, 2024).

NATO cooperates with international organizations such as the European Union, the Global-Counter Terrorism Forum, INTERPOL, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the United Nations, specifically in capacity building and border security (NATO, 2024). NATO and the European Union regularly meet and participate in cross-briefings, conferences, and training exercises, as well as collaborate with agencies such as FRONTEX to counter irregular migration (European Council, 2023).

Following United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, NATO’s operational deployment in Afghanistan provided valuable lessons on how militaries can contribute to counterterrorism efforts, including the collection of battlefield evidence for prosecuting foreign terrorist fighters and conducting forensic analyses (Cascone, 2022).

The organization’s involvement in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and its mission in Iraq help prevent the return of ISIS to the territories it formerly controlled (NATO, 2024). As part of this mission, NATO assists and advises Iraqi security forces by providing training at both the institutional and tactical levels (Cascone, 2022).

NATO’s Hub for the South analyzes the current situation in the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, and sub-Saharan Africa, mapping assistance projects to better identify terrorist threats and opportunities for cooperation (Cascone, 2022). Rather than direct involvement or deployment, NATO focuses on strengthening country's capabilities and cooperating with efforts by the United Nations and the African Union (Cascone, 2022).

The organization’s Defense Against Terrorism Center of Excellence in Ankara, Türkiye, is a key part of its counterterrorism work, contributing to concept and doctrine development, providing expertise and advice, offering education and training through courses, conferences, and mobile training teams, and developing academic research and projects (Center of Excellence Defense Against Terrorism, 2023).

Finally, NATO’s Operation Sea Guardian addresses terrorism in another operational theater, the Mediterranean Sea. Maritime counterterrorism is one of its three main tasks, along with maritime security capacity building and support for maritime situational awareness (NATO, 2023). Initiated in 2016, it is the successor of Operation Active Endeavor, launched in response to the 9/11 attacks to protect one of the busiest trade routes in the world (NATO, 2023).

References

Cascone, G. (2022). NATO Counterterrorism Trends: Current and Future Threats. Washington Institute. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/nato-counterterrorism-trends-current-and-future-threats

Center of Excellence Defense Against Terrorism. (2023). Functions and Activities. https://www.coedat.nato.int/functions.html

European Council. (2023, June 6). Eighth progress report on the implementation of the common set of proposals endorsed by EU and NATO Councils on 6 December 2016 and 5 December 2017. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/65080/230616-progress-report-nr8-eu-nato.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (2023, May 26). Operation Sea Guardian. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_136233.htm

North Atlantic Treaty Organization. (2024, July 25). Countering terrorism. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_77646.htm