ARTICLES 

Since the end of the Cold War, the United States has launched several overseas military operations together with its allies. However, significant divergences exist as to the other NATO states’ degree of participation in the US-led alliances. Through theoretical analysis, this article believes that the pursuit for regional and global status is decisive for their participation in the alliances. Domestic political factors will have an impact on the state’s course of action, manifested mainly in its limiting the government’s ability to allocate resources. Driven by factors such as regional status and international reputation, France took active participation in Libya war. As a French competitor, Germany, due to the fact that the allied operation was helpful to increase France’s influence in North Africa and the European Union, which was, however, could not help to enhance its own status, apart from the public opposition towards military intervention, chose finally not to participate. In the face of weak security threats, Turkey chose to participate in the operation out of consideration of regional status, international reputation and ally status, but public opinion against military intervention stopped it from making more concrete contributions. The choice of both the UK and Italy as well coincided with the analysis of this article.