T He I Mpact of G Eography on Nato ’

In 2011 NATO launched its Smart Defense Initiative which was intended to provide greater security with fewer resources combined with higher level of coordination and coherence among allies and partners. The importance of this initiative was once again highlighted at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago which welcomed national and transnational efforts to “develop, acquire and maintain the capabilities required to achieve its goals for NATO Forces 2020.” Most recently, the Alliance identified approximately 150 proposed multinational smart defense projects categorized in three different tiers based on the degree of progress made in implementing these projects. This paper discusses the impact of proximity on the initiation and advancement of various tiers smart defense projects, specifically the role of contiguity, regionalism and leadership in furthering the three constituents of smart defense capabilities—prioritization, specialization and cooperation. It also suggests theoretical implications about the role of geography in integrating NATO armed forces and in fostering compliance among allies and partners. Finally, this work sharpens the broader policy debate about defense coordination among allies and partners.