The US , the UK , and most other NATO countries opposed efforts to require the UN Security Council to approve NATO military strikes , such as the action against Serbia in 1999 , while France and some others claimed that the alliance needed UN approval . The US/UK side claimed that this would undermine the authority of the alliance , and they noted that Russia and China would have exercised their Security Council vetoes to block the strike on Yugoslavia , and could do the same in future conflicts where NATO intervention was required , thus nullifying the entire potency and purpose of the organization . Recognizing the post-Cold War military environment , NATO adopted the Alliance Strategic Concept during its Washington summit in April 1999 that emphasized conflict prevention and crisis management
Washington summit
1999 Washington summit
NATO