NATO Enlartgment: Is the door really open to all?
Abstract
Following the end of the Cold War, political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic called for an end to the NATO Alliance. Less than a decade later, NATO members are considering whether or not to enlarge the alliance. In July 1997, the heads of state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's sixteen member nations met in Madrid and agreed on plans to enlarge the alliance. The NATO leadership considered twelve countries from Eastern and Central Europe for new membership. Inviting only three to join the alliance, they reassured the remaining nine countries that NATO would remain open to additional membership in the future. There are many arguments that can be used to justify enlargement, but the continued strength of the NATO Alliance is the most important consideration. NATO should enlarge not to provide a security umbrella for emerging democracies or to erase the memories of old dividing lines. NATO should enlarge to become stronger and more capable of dealing with the collective security challenges of the 21st Century. In doing so, difficult decisions must be made concerning which countries can contribute meaningfully to the alliance and whether the alliance is truly open to all.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 14, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA344888
Entities
People
- Michael A. Hiemstra
Organizations
- United States Army War College