In 1949, NATO was established as a military alliance organized to protect its members from aggression or coercion by its adversaries to the East. However, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the geostrategic context for NATO transformed significantly, with a new set of security threats (ethnic conflicts, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, organized crime, etc.). For NATO to remain relevant, its members had to sustain its overall purpose of collective defense and contribute to collective security in the post-Cold War world, in which several internal and external factors have transformed. While the Alliance remains a collective defense organization, the Allies have nonetheless assumed additional roles in conflict prevention and crisis management. In its crisis management role, advances in military technology have afforded NATO the opportunity to utilize a significant strategic weapon, the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). For NATO, the TLAM has demonstrated its utility for specific purposes; and it has transformed the landscape of modern warfare. This weapon has allowed NATO to enhance its force projection capability, while minimizing risks for Alliance personnel (aircrews and ground troops) when conducting strike operations.