NATO Enlargement: Opinions and Options,

Abstract

NATO Enlargement begins with a review of NATO's origins, development, and expansion experiences. It then examines the usefulness of the Western European Union (WEU) and the Partnership for Peace (PFP) program as paths to NATO membership. It evaluates the efforts of the visegrad states to achieve membership and presents the perspectives of EU/WEU Associate Partners (Poland, Romania, and Lithuania) in support of NATO enlargement. The contrary views of successor states of the former Soviet Union (Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus) follow. The Russian government is adamantly opposed to NATO enlargement, arguing that it would be damaging to Russia's economic, political, and military interests, and would isolate Russia. Ukraine supports NATO expansion if it does not exclude or isolate states, or acknowledge any Russian 'sphere of influence' over former USSR territory. Belarus argues the need for a European security council that reflects European interests, restricts the sphere of American influence in European affairs, and includes Russia and other former states of the Soviet Union. Taking up the question of how NATO must change if it is to enlarge, the book considers political, military and defense program requirements. When NATO enlarges, major political changes will become necessary, military command relationships will need to be modified, and defense infrastructure requirements will be enormous. Three conclusions emerge: (1) dramatic progress in the Partnership for Peace program has led to a high degree of self-differentiation among the partner states, and has shifted Central European attitudes toward PFP from one of skepticism to one of enthusiastic support; (2) Expansion would have a very negative impact politically within Russia, damage from which a compensation package will not fully offset; and (3) NATO enlargement will take years to accomplish.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA311046

Entities

People

  • Jeffrey Simon

Organizations

  • National Defense University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Geography
  • Intergovernmental Organizations
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Market Economy
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Politics
  • National Security
  • Political Systems
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • International Relations and European Studies
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design