Responses

No simple yes or no—NATO is a defensive military alliance with a strong track record of protecting its members and contributing to European stability, but it has flaws, mixed results outside its core mission, and generates legitimate geopolitical debate. "Force of good" is subjective and depends on one's values (e.g., prioritizing liberal democracy and sovereignty of smaller states vs. great-power

No, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (launched on 24 February 2022) is not justified under international law, the UN Charter, or widely accepted just war principles. It constitutes an act of aggression that violates the core prohibition on the use of force against another state's territorial integrity and political independence. This assessment reflects the overwhelming view of UN member st

No, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (launched on 24 February 2022) is not justified under international law, prevailing just war criteria, or the weight of available evidence. It constitutes a clear act of aggression violating the UN Charter’s prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state (Article 2(4)). Ukraine has a right to self

No, Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine (launched on 24 February 2022) is not justified under international law, mainstream just war theory, or the weight of available evidence regarding its stated pretexts. It constitutes a clear act of aggression that violates the UN Charter and Russia's own prior commitments. While Russia and some realist analysts cite genuine security grievances (particula

This is a genuinely debated question, and reasonable people land in different places depending on what they mean by "relevant." Let me pull in some current perspectives to ground the answer. Is the UN Still Relevant? It's Complicated. The honest answer is: relevant, but badly strained — and 2026 has been a particularly hard test of that relevance. The case for "yes, still relevant" Public opin

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a defensive military and political alliance of 32 countries (as of 2024–2025, including recent joiners Finland and Sweden), founded in 1949 primarily to deter Soviet expansionism, bind the United States to European security, and prevent the resurgence of militaristic nationalism in Europe (notably keeping “the Americans in, the Russians out, and the Ger

[[1]](https://en.majalla.com/node/320506/politics/nato-turns-75-past-achievements-and-future-challenges)[[2]](https://www.cfr.org/backgrounders/what-nato)[[3]](https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/collective-defence-and-article-5)[[4]](https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/operations-and-missions/nato-operations-and-missions)[[5]](https://rusi.org/explore-our-research/publications/