A debate among global security experts centers on the idea of a NATO-style force structure for Europe and its neighborhood, a concept discussed by Liz Maurier Howard, a veteran analyst on UN peacekeeping and US foreign policy, and Michael Edward O’Hanlon, a Brookings Institution senior fellow. In their analysis published in Foreign Affairs, they argue that Western powers should craft a new security framework that enables the rapid deployment of international troops to Ukraine if needed.
The authors contend that Western leaders need to outline clear security arrangements and long term strategies to support Ukraine while shaping future relations with Russia. They suggest a broader alliance that mirrors, but extends beyond, existing blocs, proposing the Atlantic-Asian Security Community. This envisioned group would comprise many NATO members, Ukraine, allied partners, and potentially neutral states. The authors believe Russia could join only after substantial political change within the country.
In their view the Atlantic-Asian Security Community would have an immediate practical aim: to legitimize and oversee the steady presence of Western forces in the Ukrainian region. While the long range goal is stability across the area, the near term focus would be on deterrence and accountability in border zones and front lines.
Beyond Ukraine, the proposed community could tackle regional issues such as Armenia and Azerbaijan, manage migratory pressures, and counter terrorism. The authors describe a mission where troops from NATO and non NATO countries monitor Russian troop movements, assist in training Ukrainian forces, support demobilization efforts, monitor future peace agreements, and serve as a strategic barrier to prevent renewed Russian escalation.
Leadership of such a mission could come from a neutral nation, with India cited as a potential host for the mission head. The plan would also incorporate American forces, reflecting a broad coalition approach to regional security.
The authors emphasize that the Western force presence in Ukraine is essential for deterrence. They argue that troops from the United States and other NATO members should operate as part of an international force, with the United States ready to defend Ukraine in the event of aggression.
In a related thread, former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has urged the European Union to focus on strengthening its own security arrangements. He advocates for a European NATO style alliance that does not require active participation by the United States, signaling a shift toward more autonomous European defense planning and capability development.