The question speaks for itself people although I will elaborate somewhat to avoid any knee jerk responses...
NATO - An organization of mainly Western nations founded at the start of the cold war, its purpose... collective security against the threat believed to have been posed by the former USSR and its client states. To protect against any soviet invasion or attack against its members with clause 5 being the key here 'an attack on one of us is an attack on us all' this was shoulder to shoulder with the warsaw pact nations or to put it very simply Russia as all these countries answered to or allied themselves to Russia anyway.
Now during the day this pact did serve a purpose as a deterrence but also as a way for all members to die for a confrontation between only two countries the USA and USSR a case in point would be using European countries as basing areas for American military assets in particular Thermonuclear weapons, anyone in the field of history, politics etc. will tell you that this made these countries first strike targets in any war that elevated to the status of DEFCON 1 ergo the end.
Now after a brief history here is my main point and question;
The cold war is technically over although many would argue that its now back for round two; a newly asserted Russia boyed by an influx of funds mainly from minerals [gas, diamonds, uranium and so on] it has begun to re-arm it now has deployed two brand new ballistic missiles both the ICBM [Topol-M] and SLBM the Bulova with others in the works, the fastest cruise missiles in the world, 5th gen fighters [PAK-FA], A new armored platform the Armata [Tank, People carrier, Artillery etc.] and many more fun gadgets and whilst its economy was smacked with sanctions we can still see it rearming very very quickly with very advanced weapons its only real rival being the USA.. Now here is the question.
Why is NATO still here? Russia may be rearming now but after the cold war it served no purpose did it? its enemy was dead the USSR gone, Russia and Ukraine in economic turmoil in no position to wage a war against an ant colony let alone the NATO countries. But is it relevant now or simply a nice way for America to try and keep a hegemony on world affairs still as its fallen in Asia... Because from where im sitting Russia doesnt pose a threat to us or western Europe half because we are more advanced and indeed a move west would be met with fire from the heavens but because we are not a threat bar a nuclear one. The only threat I can see [this is not including eastern Europe i must stress] is that American and Russian sabre rattling could indeed drag us to oblivion as mentioned we are all host to American military assets and indeed nuclear ones making us a target our only consolation being a small and very limited second strike capability**.... So what do you think does NATO serve a purpose and should we still hold to it?
UK - about 40 deployed at once on one Boomer. The other sub will be in refit and the other two on exercises or at port.. and no ABM system to speak of bar the T-45 ships which are limited and maybe at a stretch some American assistance.
Russia - 2500 nuclear warheads deployed via TEL, Submarine, Silo etc. [at least] and a highly advanced ABM system e.g. the S-300/400/500 each capable of whacking a Trident.
So what is your answer...yes or no and why? or maybe you have a completely different take?
Personally I'd be happy to see NATO dissapear and a serious effort made to fold the Russian Federation into the international and western community. They are an advanced nation and a valuable one to be on good terms with whilst ostracizing them will not only be backing one of 3 super powers into a corner [bad move] but leaving the nation open to shall we say issues... Russia is a mighty nation but to date it has only ever been able to be led by a strong leader I cant see some tit like Cameron for example being able to actually command such a nation and we wouldnt want to see Russia implode after Putin would we?