Mexico’s membership in NATO may be the key to keeping a rapidly changing America invested in European security.

Listen on

About this episode

Eventual Mexican membership in NATO may be a necessary ingredient for keeping the United States invested in European security over the long term. This suggestion is made with an eye toward the reality that economic and political power in the United States is shifting to places and populations with fewer traditional ties to Europe such that broadening NATO’s appeal to a diversifying US public is imperative.

Watch the video

Key takeaways

• 1:59: Chris talks about how support for NATO is eroding in the United States and why NATO needs to address that quickly
• 4:36: Chris shares why he thinks that it is important for the United States to support NATO
• 7:44: Chris and Gabriela talk about some of the benefits that Mexico’s membership could bring to NATO
• 17:54: Chris and Gabriela explain why NATO could choose to make Mexico a member first and not other countries in hot spots like Georgia and Ukraine
• 22:34: Chris and Gabriela discuss the advantages in Mexico’s large number of active duty personnel and their capabilities
• 25:47: Chris talks about the generational nature of the idea
• 27:49: Chris and Gabriela talk about how increasing diversity in the US population parallels the need for diversifying US public support for NATO
• 34:29: Gabriela talks about the case from Mexico City’s point of view and what it stands to gain

Read the essay

NATO 20/2020

Oct 14, 2020

Seek membership for Mexico

By Christopher Skaluba, Gabriela R. A. Doyle

Building a relationship between NATO and Mexico may be the key to keeping a rapidly changing America invested in European security.

Europe & Eurasia Mexico

Explore the podcast series

NATO 20/2020 Podcast

NATO 20/2020 is a weekly podcast that explores 20 bold ideas to push NATO to be more visionary, more capable, and more self-evidently valuable to the security of more people.

Related NATO 20/2020 essays

NATO 20/2020 Oct 14, 2020

Modernize the kit and the message

By H.E. Dame Karen Pierce DCMG

NATO will only remain successful over the next seventy years if it modernizes its capabilities, takes command of emerging technology, and harmonizes its strategic messaging.

Defense Policy Defense Technologies

NATO 20/2020 Oct 14, 2020

Put NATO back in the narrative

By Bridget Corna and Livia Godaert

NATO can recapture the imagination of allied publics by telling its own story better and in new ways to new audiences.

Europe & Eurasia Media

NATO 20/2020 Oct 14, 2020

Reimagine the Washington Treaty

By Damon Wilson and Will O’Brien

Reexamining NATO’s founding charter can be an exercise in creating an Alliance fit for a new geopolitical era.

Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Related experts

Staff

Christopher Skaluba

Director

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Fellow

Gabriela R. A. Doyle

Nonresident Fellow

Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security Transatlantic Security Initiative

NATO Security & Defense

Related program

The Transatlantic Security Initiative, in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, shapes and influences the debate on the greatest security challenges facing the North Atlantic Alliance and its key partners.

Explore the Initiative