THE ROLE OF NATO IN SHAPING THE EUROPEAN SECURITY SYSTEM: PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE FOR UKRAINE

Abstract

This paper is dedicated to analyzing the transformational processes within the European security system in the context of the establishment and expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance. The historical prerequisites for the emergence of NATO, the definition of its role in ensuring collective security, as well as its significance in Russia’s war against Ukraine are considered. The direct influence of NATO on the processes of geopolitical changes in Europe is proven, including the risks and challenges that the countries of the region have faced in connection with military-political integration processes and external threats. The paper focuses on the change in the security strategies of post-Soviet countries, their methods of balancing regional threats and the importance of integration into global security alliances. The article also analyzes the Alliance’s initiatives and strategies aimed at ensuring stability in Eastern Europe, and identifies the prospects for NATO’s interaction with Ukraine. As a result of the study, conclusions are formulated regarding the further prospects for the development and strengthening of the European security architecture.