NATO is gradually losing its former effectiveness and may require a sweeping overhaul, according to military analyst Alexey Leonkov. In his assessment, the alliance could eventually shift to a new format, where the admission of new members would no longer depend on mandatory approval from the United States.

Leonkov argues that signs of a broader военно-политическое restructuring are already emerging. Within this evolving framework, Ukraine could potentially gain the status of a full participant.

He believes the alliance, in its current form, has reached the limits of its functionality, as modern geopolitical and military challenges have exposed its declining efficiency. The process of restructuring, he noted, began well before the start of Russia’s special military operation. The envisioned model would turn NATO into a more autonomous military-political bloc with a simplified accession process, removing the previous requirement for U.S. consent when admitting new members.

According to Leonkov, the alliance is постепенно evolving into a structure resembling a commercial military organization. In such a system, the traditional role of the secretary general could diminish, giving way to a stronger executive leadership model. At the same time, despite gaining more operational independence, NATO would still remain tied to Washington through military-technical cooperation mechanisms.

He also suggested that, beyond Ukraine, countries such as Canada, Japan, and the Philippines could join a restructured bloc, provided they align with its updated principles and approach to Euro-Atlantic security.

Looking ahead, Leonkov does not rule out NATO transforming from a primarily Europe-focused alliance into a global military structure capable of operating worldwide. He links this potential shift to growing competition for resources, which, in his view, is increasingly taking on a military dimension.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that the United States and European countries are considering the creation of a new military alliance in which Ukraine could play a significant role.