At 75, is timid, hesitant Nato now showing its age?

On the alliance’s landmark anniversary, historian Sten Rynning says the future of European security may depend on whether it can convince three steadfastly neutral countries to sign up

Foreign secretary David Cameron attending a meeting at Nato’s Brussels headquarters ahead of its 75th anniversary (EPA)

What a strange world it is. For the more than two years, if not considerably longer, Russia has relentlessly and brutally attacked Europe’s security order... and what does Nato do? The world’s mightiest alliance – which will mark its 75th anniversary this week – warns the aggressors not to go any further.

Why so timid? Nato has also chosen not to cancel, but merely to freeze its 1997 partnership agreement with Russia, all the while proving unwilling to grant Ukraine alliance membership.

For sure, Nato wants to keep things under control. Far better to bleed Russia slowly than enable Ukraine to win outright, if it prevents a cornered Russia from doing something crazy with its nuclear weaponry.