NATO, the 2026 Iran Crisis, and the Emergence of a Multi-Layered Alliance

Özdemir E., Özer A.

Insight Turkey, cilt.28, sa.2, ss.115-148, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 28 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.25253/99.2026282.9
  • Dergi Adı: Insight Turkey
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, Index Islamicus, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, Political Science Complete, vLex, MLA International Bibliography, Political Science Abstract (IPSA), Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Social Science Premium Collection (ProQuest), Political Science Database (ProQuest)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.115-148
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Alliance Cohesion, Iran Crisis, NATO, Strait of Hormuz, Trans-Atlantic Security
  • Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The 2026 Iran crisis reveals important changes in NATO’s cohesion dynamics, demonstrating that alliance unity is increasingly shaped by di­verging threat perceptions, strategic priorities, and risk assessments among member states. While the U.S. adopts a more confrontational and deter­rence-oriented approach toward Iran, many European allies emphasize diplomacy, energy security, and regional stability, highlighting persistent trans-Atlantic differences over the appropriate response to extra-regional security challenges. The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz illustrates the limitations of NATO’s collective defense framework in addressing con­flicts that do not directly trigger Article 5 obligations, as well as the chal­lenges of achieving political coordination when allies interpret security threats differently. This article employs a qualitative case study methodol­ogy, examining official statements, alliance documents, and academic lit­erature to analyze how threat perceptions, energy vulnerability, European strategic autonomy, and institutional mechanisms shape NATO’s response. The findings suggest that NATO is not experiencing institutional decline but is evolving toward a more differentiated, multi-layered alliance struc­ture in which formal commitments coexist with varying levels of political alignment, operational participation, and strategic prioritization.