In the wake of the Second World War, the Allied nations decided to continue their alliance, politically and militarily, in order to prevent the international spread of communism, a genuine threat to NATO’s existence. That alliance became known as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, named after its establishing North Atlantic Treaty. In the latter half of the 20th century, NATO was confronted with the Warsaw Pact, a rival military organization associated with the Soviet Union and the gradual rise of communism. With the fall of the Soviet Union, however, NATO is adapting to the 21st century and has increasingly assumed a role as a peacekeeping organization beyond that of a military alliance.
This committee is specifically designed for intermediate and experienced delegates. Position papers, although strongly recommended, are not required. However, delegates who wish to be considered for an award must submit their position papers by January 22nd, 2024, at 23:59 PT. More information about position papers can be found on page 3 of the Background Guide.
Topic A: Presence in the Black Sea (Click to show summary)
The Black Sea constitutes the Balkans and stretches out to the Mediterranean, Africa, Eurasia, and the East. As one of the only warm water ports in Europe all year round, it serves as a pivotal geopolitical point that is situated in the frontline of transatlantic security and carries maritime trade, natural energy, and oil resources to the remainder of the continent and beyond. Such factors have contributed to Russia’s growing interest in the region. NATO’s role in the Black Sea is immensely complicated as the region’s unstable political and economic climate directly affects the security of adjacent NATO member states. The alliance must reevaluate its position in the region and propose solutions to combat Russia’s ever growing presence there.
Topic B: Kosovo-Serbia Conflict (Click to show summary)
Kosovo is a former territory of Serbia that has a majority of ethnic Albanians and a minority of ethnic Serbs. The country was unilaterally declared independent from Serbia in 2008 following multiple violence-ridden conflicts that sought for sovereignty. However, while internationally acceptable, their declaration was against Serbian legislation. As a result, countries hold clashing stances on the status of Kosovo; while some recognize its unique autonomy, others such as Serbia do not. This has left establishing administration and security immensely difficult, especially for the Serb majority that resides in Northern Kosovo. Recently, tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have flared up due to the underrepresentation of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo’s political climate. Before violence persists to unmanageable scales, NATO must enforce new solutions to contain this conflict.
Vanessa Chen | Director
A Grade 10 student at Crofton House School, Vanessa is elated to serve as the Director of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at VMUN 2024! Ever since tripping twice on her way up to the podium at her very first conference, she has been enthralled by the world of Model UN, sparking her fervent affinity for global affairs. Whether it be climbing up 20 staircases after a midnight crisis or witnessing North and South Korea uniting then divorcing shortly after, MUN has granted Vanessa invaluable friendships and cherished memories in the Hyatt walls. Outside of the committee room, she can be found challenging elderly residents at her local senior home to a game of mahjong, suffering the millionth ankle injury from hurdling on the track, or explaining her peculiar yet specific dreams. Vanessa looks forward to welcoming all delegates for a weekend of ardent debate!
Breanna Ho | Chair
As a Grade 12 student at Crofton House School, Breanna is honoured to serve as the Chair of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at VMUN 2024. Since stumbling across the debate world in Grade 8, she has realized that being part of heated discussions is nothing short of exhilarating. Over the years, through participating in several conferences, Breanna has made meaningful friendships and gained invaluable experiences. Outside the conference room, Breanna can be found laughing away with her friends in the back of the guard room, hesitantly fixing her friend’s makeup seconds before a dance competition, and wondering why her recent Sephora order just qualified her for another year of Rouge. Breanna is elated to meet all the delegates and is looking forward to an extraordinary weekend of debate!
Harry Jiang | Assistant Director
A Grade 12 student at Mount Douglas Secondary School, Harry is ecstatic to serve as the Assistant Director of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at VMUN 2024. Ever since his unexpected discovery of the world of Model UN, Harry has found himself fascinated by the lively debates and the welcoming community of Model UN. Model UN has provided Harry with the wonderful opportunity to debate intricate international issues and create meaningful and unforgettable memories. Outside of the committee room, Harry can be found passionately practicing the violin, tirelessly writing algorithms for his programming projects, and binge-reading an alarming amount of manga. Harry looks forward to creating a welcoming and exciting environment for all delegates and wishes them the best of luck at VMUN.
You can contact the Director at nato@vmun.com. Any questions regarding the committee or its debate procedures will be answered by email. Position papers must also be submitted to this address.