International logistics and NATO logistics: The case of Afghanistan

In this thesis, the logistics activities of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Afghanistan are examined and it is examined what kind of predictions these activities can make for the international logistics field. The aim of the thesis study proposed within the scope of this subject; the aim is to evaluate NATO's logistics operations in Afghanistan within the framework of the current approaches of international logistics and to reveal the applicability of these military logistics activities in the field of international logistics. In the thesis study, the historical case study method was mainly used. Historical case study analyzes case(s) from past to present, using eclectic data sources to generate both idiographic and nomothetic knowledge. In this context, secondary data sources such as journals, academic articles and theses, archive records, photographic archives and other physical artifacts were used in the study. Today, the concept of defense has transcended national borders and has become both international and multidimensional. For this reason, there are similarities between international military and commercial logistics planning. In other words, the aim of providing goods or services to the consumer at an affordable cost is also valid in military logistics. For example, the outsourcing strategy of international companies in other countries is also seen in today's military applications. In addition, logistics functions such as material transportation, supply and distribution, storage and inventory control, transportation activities, design, maintenance and support are widely used in the military field as well as in commercial logistics. NATO also states in its documents that the logistics principles and principles it has determined are applicable to any multinational operation. In this study, the implications for international businesses on the use of outsourcing, the importance of logistics pre-planning, standardization and interoperability, which are widely used in military logistics, were evaluated. Experiences gained in military applications, where systematic logistics started, shed light on civilian applications. For this reason, it is appreciated that examining the logistics of NATO organization with international logistics norms will bring a new perspective to the literature.