Expansion of NATO

north-central Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was make on fourth April 1949 after the Second World War as a realization of the importance of close ties amongst United States of America and atomic number 63 for the stability and warranter of innovation 1. It was a watershed event in both the US biography and in the history of 20th century, as it marked the isolationist dodging that had characterized US foreign policy since more than 2 centuries 2.The attachment was seen as a counter system to protect Western European democracies against the growing threat of communism nether USSR3. Later on this strategic- armed forces all in alliance proved an important tool in the enkindle of Cold War between regular army and USSR where it was seen as only safeguard for US and its allies against the refinementist designs of communist countries spearheaded by USSR.However with the disintegration of USSR, juncture of Germany and displace of Cold War in 1989-1991, the functional se rvice chopine of NATO were re-examined to decide its coming(prenominal) role in the crude world order. However, end of the Cold War did non signify end of role of NATO and soon it witnessed the massive ethnic and religious conflicts in the Eastern Europe, curiously in Balkan nations 4. By 1995, NATO was required to intervene like a shot in many of these affairs as hygienic as play the role of peacekeeper in the upstartly independent countries.Later on in the decade, the issue of terrorism raised its head, and presented further challenges to roles, responsibilities and backdrop of NATOs next strategies 5. Through the entire decade of 1990s NATO was mold up its own future action draw and on June 8-9, 1997, it took decision to expand and take new democracies of The Czech Republic, Hungry, and Poland, all contour lineer USSR allies, as ruin of NATO6. Since this decision has risen much vied and heat all over its contextual application in the changed world order, and cr iticisms puzzle been abundant on the merit of enlargementist dodge of NATO in the 21st century world 7. This wallpaper shall examine the various issues involved with blowup dodge a wide with their merits and demerits.The debate against the working outThe decision to expand the NATO has created heat debates and arguments, both in favor and against of the decision. Many truss the opinion that an expanded NATO would be beneficial for world order, spheric peace and bail and stinting suppuration and free trade, while new(prenominal)s view threats of greater regional tension and hegemony of certain nations if NATO continues to expand8. The involution of NATO is generally unlike on following four grounds91.The expansion involves great expenditure to protect the allied countries. Estimates keep up redact the expenditure at more than $125 unmatchable million million million annually if US goes ahead with the expansion strategy.2.Dangerously superior level of fealtys on p art of US of protect the impudently enrolled allied countries. Western European countries themselves have demonstrated little interest in the expansion program as they consider it primarily an Ameri abide objective. Thus it falls back simply on the States to shield the its allies which may be a daunting and horrific line of work given the complex geo-political relation they share with each other as well as USAs former nemesis USSR.3. The third problem is a modification of second problem which involves unlike constitution of relations among even new entrants in NATO. Further, both(prenominal) of the interchange and Eastern European countries such(prenominal) as Hungry and Poland are embroiled centuries languish feuds with their neighbors and a conflict, even though on express mail scale would make it mandatory for US to assist the penis area, thereby widening the scope of the conflict.4. The live concern presented relates to the possibility that expansion may forever go NATO as a peacekeeping potency in the extreme Eastern Europe where situation among some(prenominal) countries, including Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungry, is so volatile that repeated conflicts can break out over a number of years.The expansion and responsible factorsThe expansion of NATO came after coherent negotiations with former communist nations that included Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. NATO took a serial publication of steps, such as formation of North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 and NATOs Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 1994 to develop an amicable and dovish environment for effective interaction and cooperation for these countries10. The decision to finally include Czech Republic, Hungry and Poland came after long deliberations and amidst a growing consensus that these nascent democracies needed to be integrate in the western democratic simulation to help them achieve rapid and lasting economic developmen t11.Although the debate on this expansion has been widely crossways political and strategic spectrum, it should be noted that it was not for the frontmost time that NATO had expanded. Article 10 of NATOs foundation document has given it implicit rights to include new segments on their meeting certain criteria12.As one of the central premises of NATO is that attack on any of its member would be considered as attack against all and hence NATO would be s justified in victorious military action against the aggressor, it attracted many European non members to the organization to safeguard their democratic values, freedom, heritage and civilization13. Thus NATO has undergone trey major expansions since its formation to fulfill its perpetration to stability and continued growth of economy and trade in the member countries.By 1990s most of the east European nations were convinced that in wedlocking NATO remained their only promise to protect their integrity, and ensure their surviva l in an increasingly chaotic political order. On its part, NATO was also anxious(predicate) to embrace these countries has it perceived that most of problems afflicting Europe were occurring in non NATO member countries and therefore by increasing the scope of alliance, NATO would contribute towards increasing the stability and security in the Eastern Europe14. Further, the new responsibilities gave NATO the much-required fortune to present a changed face and more responsible and countywide attitude in the post-Cold War world affairs15.In wake of these developments, however the criticism and debates surrounding the earlier expansion strategy to include the three former communist nations, USA has confirmed its commitment to further expansion of NATO in the coming years16.European security and future expansion strategy of NATOAs the Cold War ended in 1989, it became apparent that Eastern Europe was headed for comprehensive restructuring and reformulating the strategies that were n o long applicable in the new context17. abatement of hostilities between Western and Eastern Europe provided an unprecedented opportunity to policy makers to work towards attainment of long standing objective of European unification, in which NATO was considered as a powerful catalyst.NATO provided the vital platform where the political, economic and military interests of both Western and Eastern Europe came in concert and its own regional development took priority with view to strengthen the economic and strategic coalition of European states18. NATO was the instrument that facilitated this ideological and strategic unification of Europe.In the view of changed political order in Europe and risks of terrorism, NATO has formed a long term future expansion strategy that makes it open to every European bucolic which seeks NATOs help in protecting its identity and culture while fashioning transition towards democracy19. Although the neighboring(a) and pressing needs of any intent of expansion have receded, especially after the successful intervention of Balkan crisis by NATO and demonstration of its continued relevance as a capable peacemaker. Also, the latest enlargement, as discussed before, turn to one of the pressing issues on NATO, to form an active collaboration with former USSR supporting countries.Yet the future expansion of NATO is inevitable, as many non NATO European countries would make to meet the conditions for entry into the Alliance and may question its commitment to peacekeeping if denied admittance20.Therefore considering the requirement of expansion, NATO has planned the part in distinct steps, with no-surprise strategy. Aspirants may request for membership devil years before the decision making years that are set as 2002, 2008-09, and 2012-14. As strategian point out that these expansions would be confine to introduction of maximum one or two nations at a time, rather than multiple entry21. These expansions would addition the mem bership of NATO to 25 countries, making it one of the most nonionized and important military alliances in the modern font times.The future expansion strategy of NATO comprises of five steps1. Development of military cooperation with the newly joined state under Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiative2. Greater PfP coordination and cooperation to meet expectations and aspirations of new members3.Formation of rules and guidelines that esteem a given solid grounds eligibility for consideration of NATO membership4.Assessment and scrutiny of a given countrys standing in fulfilling NATOs commitment if accepted as member5.Deciding the time frame for new country to join the Alliance.Conclusion intricacy of NATO has to be seen from a broader and longer perspective. NATO has become an indispensable tool, especially in the changing nature of terrorism that is taking global dimension. As once the free democracies of Western Europe and USA feature to stop designs of Communism, its equally vi tal in the present scenario for them and the new members to form an alliance that thwarts evil shoot for of global terrorism for which an armed, military equipped and strategically capable military authority is necessary.NATO, by expanding its membership, is in the function of gaining that crucial strategic leverage, as well as create conditions in the first roll that would clog many countries to be affected by menace of terrorism in the changed world strategic order.ReferenceAlexander Moens, Lenard J.Cohen, Allen G.Sens .NATO and European Security Alliance Politics from the End of the Cold War to the Age of Terrorism. Praeger. Westport, CT. 2003Barany, Z. The Future of NATO Expansion quadruplet Case Studies. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England. 2003 work T.G and Barbara C. NATO explosion Illusions and Reality. Cato Institute. Washington, DC. 2001Gardener, H.. NATO for a New Century Atlanticism and European Security. Editor Carl C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT 2002. Kaplna, L.S. The coherent entanglement NATOs First Fifty Years. Praeger. Westport, CT. 1999Lepgold, J. NATOs Post-Cold War Collective Action Problem, supranational Security, 231 (Summer 1998) 78106Millar A and Plesch D.T. thrust the Envelope Too Far? Technologys Impact on NATO Expansion. Journal of internationalistic Affairs. record book 51. Issue 2. 1998. Page Number 641.Seidelmann, R. NATO for a New Century Atlanticism and European Security. Editor Carl C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT 2002.Simon, J. Central European Civil-Military Relations and NATO Expansion Washington, D.C. National Defense University, McNair Paper 39, 1995Solomons, G.B. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997 The Blessings of Liberty. Praeger. Westport, CT. 1998.Szayna, T.S. NATO Enlargement, 2000-2015 Determinants and Implications for Defense supplying and Shaping. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001.1 A. Millar and D.T Plesch. Pushing the technology too far? Journal of International Affairs. 2 L.S. Kaplan. The wide Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 1 3 L.S. Kaplan. The Long Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 2 4 A. Moens, L. J.Cohen, A. G.Sens. NATO and European security. Praeger. 2003. 5 A. Moens, L. J.Cohen, A. G.Sens. NATO and European security. Praeger. 2003. 6 G.B. Solomons. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997. Praeger. P 1. 7 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003. 8 H. Gardner. NATO for a New Century Editor. C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT. 2002. P 23. 9 T.G. Carpenter and A.B. Conry. NATO Enlargement Illusions and Reality. Cato Institute. Washington DC. 2001. 10 Jeffrey Simon, Central European Civil-Military Relations and NATO Expansion (Washington, D.C. National Defense University, McNair Paper 39, 1995) 11 L.S. Kaplan. The Long Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 8 12 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003 13 G.B. Solomons. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997. Praeger. P 2. 14 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansi on. Cambridge University Press. 2003 15 Joseph Lepgold, NATOs Post-Cold War Collective Action Problem, International Security, 231 (Summer 1998) 78106 16 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003 17 R. Seidelmann, NATO for a New Century. Edit. Carl C. Hodge 2002. p- 47 18 R. Seidelmann, NATO for a New Century. Edit. Carl C. Hodge 2002. p- 48 19 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-41. 20 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-42. 21 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-42Expansion of NATOIntroductionNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed on 4th April 1949 after the Second World War as a realization of the importance of close ties between United States of America and Europe for the stability and security of world 1. It was a watershed event in both the US history and in the history of 20th century, as it marked the isolationist strategy tha t had characterized US foreign policy since more than 2 centuries 2. The alliance was seen as a counter strategy to protect Western European democracies against the growing threat of communism under USSR3. Later on this strategic-military alliance proved an important tool in the wake of Cold War between USA and USSR where it was seen as only safeguard for US and its allies against the expansionist designs of communist countries spearheaded by USSR.However with the disintegration of USSR, unification of Germany and end of Cold War in 1989-1991, the functional utility of NATO were re-examined to decide its future role in the new world order. However, end of the Cold War did not signify end of role of NATO and soon it witnessed the wide ethnic and religious conflicts in the Eastern Europe, especially in Balkan nations 4. By 1995, NATO was required to intervene directly in many of these affairs as well as play the role of peacekeeper in the newly independent countries.Later on in the de cade, the issue of terrorism raised its head, and presented further challenges to roles, responsibilities and scope of NATOs future strategies 5. Through the entire decade of 1990s NATO was shaping up its own future action course and on June 8-9, 1997, it took decision to expand and include new democracies of The Czech Republic, Hungry, and Poland, all former USSR allies, as part of NATO6. Since this decision has risen much debated and heat over its contextual application in the changed world order, and criticisms have been abundant on the merit of expansionist strategy of NATO in the 21st century world 7. This paper shall examine the various issues involved with expansion strategy along with their merits and demerits.The debate against the expansionThe decision to expand the NATO has created heated debates and arguments, both in favor and against of the decision. Many hold the opinion that an expanded NATO would be beneficial for world order, global peace and security and economic development and free trade, while others view threats of greater regional tension and hegemony of certain nations if NATO continues to expand8. The Expansion of NATO is generally opposed on following four grounds91. The expansion involves huge expenditure to protect the allied countries. Estimates have put the expenditure at more than $125 billion annually if US goes ahead with the expansion strategy.2. Dangerously high level of commitments on part of US of protecting the newly enrolled allied countries. Western European countries themselves have demonstrated little interest in the expansion program as they consider it primarily an American objective. Thus it falls back entirely on USA to shield the its allies which may be a daunting and horrific task given the complex geo-political relation they share with each other as well as USAs former nemesis USSR.3. The third problem is a modification of second problem which involves conflicting nature of relations among even new entrants in NATO. Further, some of the Central and Eastern European countries such as Hungry and Poland are embroiled centuries long feuds with their neighbors and a conflict, even though on limited scale would make it mandatory for US to assist the member country, thereby widening the scope of the conflict.4. The last concern presented relates to the possibility that expansion may forever engage NATO as a peacekeeping authority in the extreme Eastern Europe where situation among several countries, including Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Hungry, is so volatile that repeated conflicts can break out over a number of years.The expansion and responsible factorsThe expansion of NATO came after long negotiations with former communist nations that included Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Soviet Union. NATO took a series of steps, such as formation of North Atlantic Cooperation Council in 1991 and NATOs Partnership for Peace (PfP) program in 1994 to develop an amicable and p eaceful environment for effective interaction and cooperation for these countries10. The decision to finally include Czech Republic, Hungry and Poland came after long deliberations and amidst a growing consensus that these nascent democracies needed to be integrated in the western democratic framework to help them achieve rapid and lasting economic development11.Although the debate on this expansion has been widely across political and strategic spectrum, it should be noted that it was not for the first time that NATO had expanded. Article 10 of NATOs foundation document has given it implicit rights to include new members on their meeting certain criteria12.As one of the central premises of NATO is that attack on any of its member would be considered as attack against all and hence NATO would be s justified in taking military action against the aggressor, it attracted many European non members to the organization to safeguard their democratic values, freedom, heritage and civilizati on13. Thus NATO has undergone three major expansions since its formation to fulfill its commitment to stability and continued growth of economy and trade in the member countries.By 1990s most of the eastern European nations were convinced that in joining NATO remained their only hope to protect their integrity, and ensure their survival in an increasingly chaotic political order. On its part, NATO was also eager to embrace these countries has it perceived that most of problems afflicting Europe were occurring in non NATO member countries and therefore by increasing the scope of alliance, NATO would contribute towards increasing the stability and security in the Eastern Europe14. Further, the new responsibilities gave NATO the much-required opportunity to present a changed face and more responsible and comprehensive attitude in the post-Cold War world affairs15.In wake of these developments, notwithstanding the criticism and debates surrounding the earlier expansion strategy to inclu de the three former communist nations, USA has confirmed its commitment to further expansion of NATO in the coming years16.European security and future expansion strategy of NATOAs the Cold War ended in 1989, it became apparent that Eastern Europe was headed for comprehensive restructuring and reformulating the strategies that were no longer applicable in the new context17. Abatement of hostilities between Western and Eastern Europe provided an unprecedented opportunity to policy makers to work towards attainment of long standing objective of European unification, in which NATO was considered as a powerful catalyst.NATO provided the vital platform where the political, economic and military interests of both Western and Eastern Europe came together and its own regional development took priority with view to strengthen the economic and strategic coalition of European states18. NATO was the instrument that facilitated this ideological and strategic unification of Europe.In the view of changed political order in Europe and risks of terrorism, NATO has formed a long term future expansion strategy that makes it open to every European country which seeks NATOs help in protecting its identity and culture while making transition towards democracy19. Although the immediate and pressing needs of any plan of expansion have receded, especially after the successful handling of Balkan crisis by NATO and demonstration of its continued relevance as a capable peacemaker. Also, the latest enlargement, as discussed before, addressed one of the pressing issues on NATO, to form an active collaboration with former USSR supporting countries.Yet the future expansion of NATO is inevitable, as many non NATO European countries would begin to meet the conditions for entry into the Alliance and may question its commitment to peacekeeping if denied admittance20.Therefore considering the requirement of expansion, NATO has planned the procedure in distinct steps, with no-surprise strategy. As pirants may request for membership two years before the decision making years that are set as 2002, 2008-09, and 2012-14. As strategist point out that these expansions would be limited to introduction of maximum one or two nations at a time, rather than multiple entry21. These expansions would increase the membership of NATO to 25 countries, making it one of the most organized and important military alliances in the modern times.The future expansion strategy of NATO comprises of five steps1. Development of military cooperation with the newly joined state under Partnership for Peace (PfP) initiative2. Greater PfP coordination and cooperation to meet expectations and aspirations of new members3. Formation of rules and guidelines that assess a given countrys eligibility for consideration of NATO membership4. Assessment and scrutiny of a given countrys standing in fulfilling NATOs commitment if accepted as member5. Deciding the time frame for new country to join the Alliance.ConclusionE xpansion of NATO has to be seen from a broader and longer perspective. NATO has become an indispensable tool, especially in the changing nature of terrorism that is taking global dimension. As once the free democracies of Western Europe and USA combined to thwart designs of Communism, its equally vital in the present scenario for them and the new members to form an alliance that thwarts evil purpose of global terrorism for which an armed, military equipped and strategically capable military authority is necessary. NATO, by expanding its membership, is in the process of gaining that crucial strategic leverage, as well as create conditions in the first place that would prevent many countries to be affected by menace of terrorism in the changed world strategic order.ReferenceAlexander Moens, Lenard J.Cohen, Allen G.Sens .NATO and European Security Alliance Politics from the End of the Cold War to the Age of Terrorism. Praeger. Westport, CT. 2003Barany, Z. The Future of NATO Expansion F our Case Studies. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge, England. 2003Carpenter T.G and Barbara C. NATO Enlargement Illusions and Reality. Cato Institute. Washington, DC. 2001Gardener, H.. NATO for a New Century Atlanticism and European Security. Editor Carl C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT 2002.Kaplna, L.S. The Long Entanglement NATOs First Fifty Years. Praeger. Westport, CT. 1999Lepgold, J. NATOs Post-Cold War Collective Action Problem, International Security, 231 (Summer 1998) 78106Millar A and Plesch D.T. Pushing the Envelope Too Far? Technologys Impact on NATO Expansion. Journal of International Affairs. Volume 51. Issue 2. 1998. Page Number 641.Seidelmann, R. NATO for a New Century Atlanticism and European Security. Editor Carl C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT 2002.Simon, J. Central European Civil-Military Relations and NATO Expansion Washington, D.C. National Defense University, McNair Paper 39, 1995Solomons, G.B. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997 The Blessings of Liberty. Praeger. Westport, CT. 1998.Szayna, T.S. NATO Enlargement, 2000-2015 Determinants and Implications for Defense Planning and Shaping. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001.1 A. Millar and D.T Plesch. Pushing the technology too far? Journal of International Affairs.2 L.S. Kaplan. The Long Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 1 3 L.S. Kaplan. The Long Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 2 4 A. Moens, L. J.Cohen, A. G.Sens. NATO and European security. Praeger. 2003. 5 A. Moens, L. J.Cohen, A. G.Sens. NATO and European security. Praeger. 2003. 6 G.B. Solomons. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997. Praeger. P 1. 7 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003. 8 H. Gardner. NATO for a New Century Editor. C. Hodge. Praeger. Westport, CT. 2002. P 23. 9 T.G. Carpenter and A.B. Conry. NATO Enlargement Illusions and Reality. Cato Institute. Washington DC. 2001. 10 Jeffrey Simon, Central European Civil-Military Relations and NATO Expansion (Washington, D.C. National Defense Universi ty, McNair Paper 39, 1995) 11 L.S. Kaplan. The Long Entanglement, Praeger, 1999. p. 8 12 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003 13 G.B. Solomons. The NATO Enlargement Debate, 1990-1997. Praeger. P 2. 14 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003 15 Joseph Lepgold, NATOs Post-Cold War Collective Action Problem, International Security, 231 (Summer 1998) 78106 16 Z.Barany. The Future of NATO Expansion. Cambridge University Press. 2003 17 R. Seidelmann, NATO for a New Century. Edit. Carl C. Hodge 2002. p- 47 18 R. Seidelmann, NATO for a New Century. Edit. Carl C. Hodge 2002. p- 48 19 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-41. 20 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-42.21 T.S. Szayna. NATO Expansion 2000-2015. Rand. Santa Monica, CA. 2001. p-42