Problems and Solutions in Future Coalition Operations

Thomas J. Marshall · Phillip Kaiser · Jon Kessmeier

Jan 1997 · Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College

About this ebook

Each year, the United States Army, Europe (USAREUR) undertakes a conference-study program on a matter of strategic significance, with several objectives. The topic relates to USAREUR's mission; anticipates future requirements; contributes toward building democratic norms within the militaries of emerging democracies; and serves to inform the USAREUR staff, higher headquarters and other U.S. Government agencies of active measures to improve current practices. In 1996, USAREUR undertook to study "Problems and Solutions in Future Coalition Operations." That topic was germane not only because of the U.S. Government's participation in several current coalitions, but also because USAREUR will continue to be in the vanguard, participating in a wide variety of multinational operations. While coalitions may be a way of life for most militaries, changes in the geostrategic environment over the past several years have created new challenges and opport- unities for U.S. participation. Protecting the Kurds in Iraq after the Gulf War, supporting humanitarian relief operations in Rwanda, deploying a preventive diplomacy force to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to guard against a spillover of the Balkan conflict, and providing forces to support the implementation of the Dayton Accords for Bosnia have tested the United States' ability to work with new partners, in support of new missions, in unfamiliar parts of the world. There are important similarities and differences between these new coalition operations, and large military operations and bygone NATO plans for operations in Europe against the Warsaw Pact. In fact, some of the former Warsaw Pact states are now partners in coalitions with the United States Other countries from Africa and Asia Minor have participated as well.