From James Goldgeier, the New York Times:  Europe will, however, have to do more for its own security as time goes on. . . .

Europe will need to become more responsible for the security problems in its neighborhood, particularly in the Mediterranean and the lands between the European Union and Russia. . . .

Meanwhile, for NATO to have any future, the alliance will have to develop greater capacity to respond to global threats like terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction arising from outside of Europe and North America that affect our common security. To do so, it will need democratic partners from other regions — Australia, Japan and South Korea — that can add to NATO’s capabilities. An institution that remains purely trans-Atlantic in character will be neither relevant nor sufficiently capable in the face of 21st century challenges.

James Goldgeier is a co-author of the recently released Transatlantic Academy report titled "Global Shift: How the West Should Respond to the Rise of China." In August, he will become dean of American University’s School of International Service.  (photo: Getty)

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