Strategic dialogue and democratic continuity : the role of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in Greek–American relations
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Keywords
Greek-American relations ; NATO Parliamentary Assembly ; Strategic dialogue ; Democratic continuity ; Parliamentary diplomacy ; Transatlantic relations ; Soft power ; Alliance cohesion ; Democratic resilience ; Eastern Mediterranean ; Small-state diplomacy ; Energy security ; Foreign policy continuityAbstract
The idea of engaging Alliance Parliamentarians in collective deliberations on the problems of confronting the transatlantic partnership first became known in the 1950’s and took shape with the creation of an annual conference of NATO Parliamentarians in 1955. The Assembly’s creation reflected a desire, on the part of the legislators, to give substance to the premise of the Washington Treaty of 1949. NATO was the practical expression of the fundamental, political, transatlantic alliances of democracies. Indeed, the Washington Treaty was signed on April 4, 1949, by twelve countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Based on the Washington Treaty, the signatories accepted George F. Kennan’s policy recommendation to contain the Soviet Union, after the bloodless coup d’état that brought the communists into Czechoslovakian’s government in 1948. Moreover, although Czechoslovakia was not formerly within the Soviet Union, American Officials were concerned that the Soviet Communists in that country will influence its foreign policy. At that time, the United States were beginning to view a rearmed Germany as a good line of defence against Soviet incursions into Western Europe.
The foundation of cooperation between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) was strengthened in December 1969, when the North Atlantic Council (NAC) authorized the NATO SG to study how to achieve closer cooperation between the two bodies. After extended consultations, the SG implemented several measures to enhance the working relationship between NATO and the Assembly. These measures included the SG providing a response to Assembly recommendations adopted by the plenary sessions.
Reacting to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1988, the NATO PA broadened its mandate for developing close relations with political leaders of Central and East European countries. These ties, in turn, greatly facilitated the dialogue that NATO itself initiated upon with the Region’s governments.
My thesis explores the role of NATO PA in shaping and sustaining Greek–American relations in the post–Cold War era. While bilateral ties between Greece and the United States are typically understood through the lens of military agreements and executive diplomacy, this study argues that parliamentary diplomacy within NATO PA plays an increasingly important role in reinforcing strategic alignment, projecting democratic norms, and managing regional tensions.
Employing a qualitative methodology founded in primary NATO PA official documents, parliamentary records, and interviews, the research maps Greece’s evolving participation in NATO PA structures and examines how informal, agenda-setting, and norm-diffusion mechanisms facilitate transatlantic engagement. The thesis focuses on key areas where NATO PA has been instrumental, including energy security, crisis diplomacy in the Eastern Mediterranean, and the promotion of democratic resilience.
The findings suggest that NATO PA has served as a stabilizing mechanism during periods of geopolitical volatility and political transition, especially during the Trump administration and heightened tensions with Türkiye. Although institutionally constrained, the Assembly has enabled Greece to articulate strategic concerns, forge consensus with American counterparts, and contribute to shaping NATO’s southern strategy. Parliamentary diplomacy has helped amplify Greece’s voice as a consistent, normative actor, even in the face of asymmetrical power relations.
The thesis concludes that while NATO PA does not replace executive diplomacy, it provides an essential platform for continuity, legitimacy, and alliance cohesion. Policy recommendations are offered to strengthen Greece’s institutional engagement with NATO PA, propose mechanisms for deeper U.S.–Greek parliamentary coordination, and enhance the Assembly’s role in democratic oversight. In a rapidly evolving global order, NATO PA emerges not as a peripheral institution but as a critical component of transatlantic resilience.
Postgraduate Studies Programme
American Studies: Politics, Strategy and EconomicsDepartment
Σχολή Οικονομικών, Επιχειρηματικών και Διεθνών Σπουδών. Τμήμα Διεθνών και Ευρωπαϊκών ΣπουδώνNumber of pages
73Language
EnglishCollections
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Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα
Αναφορά Δημιουργού-Μη Εμπορική Χρήση-Όχι Παράγωγα Έργα 3.0 Ελλάδα