US Support for Baltic Membership in NATO: What Ends, What Risks?

Abstract

The questions of whether North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) should be enlarged and, if so, to what degree have been among most difficult and sensitive issues facing Alliance since end of Cold War. In shaping US National Security Strategy regarding US interests in Europe and US NATO policy, President Clinton has declared his support for NATO membership for well-qualified democracies regardless of geography or history, including those in northeastern Europe. US policy regarding NATO enlargement should seek to strengthen Alliance as well as to bolster democratic advances, deter potential threats, and increase regional stability throughout Europe. However, by promoting a policy that supports NATO membership for Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Administration is jeopardizing vital US national interests and undermining NATO's collective defense mission. [1] This article examines US strategy regarding NATO enlargement, assesses its strengths and weaknesses, and recommends changes to protect vital US interests in Europe while providing Baltic republics with a security alternative to NATO membership. NATO'S Strategic Concept and Enlargement Beginning in 1989, unexpectedly rapid political, military, and social changes resulted in end of ideological and military stalemate in Europe and breakup of Soviet Union. Those changes and regional instability caused by ethnic and religious conflict occurring within Europe prompted NATO to examine and adjust its policies, missions, and structures. NATO's new strategic concept, approved at Washington Summit in April 1999, reflects new security challenges and dangers extant in Europe. It also reflects Alliance's increased commitment to coordinate and cooperate with other international institutions in supporting out of operations (those conducted outside territory of NATO member states). [2] However, despite NATO's increasing involvement in nontraditional operations, Alliance's essential and enduring mission is to guarantee territorial integrity, political independence, and security of its members. [3] It is that mission that has resulted in a flood of Central and Eastern European applicants seeking NATO membership. Article 10 of Washington Treaty provides that the parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European state in a position to further principles of this Treaty and to contribute to security of North Atlantic area to accede to this [4] This commitment was reaffirmed by NATO leaders during 1994 Brussels Summit, where they declared that membership in Alliance remained open to those nations who could further principles established in Washington Treaty. [5] The strategic goals served by enlargement and methods used to achieve enlargement were examined following year. The product of that examination was Study on NATO Enlargement, wherein Alliance's principles for accessing new members were documented. The study concluded that enlargement of Alliance contributes to stability and security of Euro-Atlantic area. It also addressed selection and accession of new members and confirmed that accession would occur in accordance with provisions of Article 10 of Washington Treaty, with new members receiving all rights of Treaty membership. [6] However, when addressing rights of new members, study also designated their obligations by declaring that new members must be prepared to contribute to NATO's budget and support Alliance's evolving missions and its fundamental collective defense role. [7] To ensure that new members are able to contribute to NATO's collective defense as well as benefit from it, study states that before accessing new members, Alliance will evaluate effects of their admission to ensure that enlargement will not diminish NATO's military credibility. …