Enlargement of NATO: Difference between revisions

[[NATO]] is a [[military alliance]] of [[Member states of NATO|thirty-two European and North American countries]] that constitutes a system of [[Collective security#Collective defense|collective defense]]. The process of joining the alliance is governed by Article 10 of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]], which allows for the invitation of "other European States" only and by subsequent agreements. Countries wishing to join must meet certain requirements and complete a multi-step process involving political dialogdialogue and military integration. The accession process is overseen by the [[North Atlantic Council]], NATO's governing body. NATO was formed in 1949 with [[North Atlantic Treaty#Founding members|twelve founding members]] and has added new members ten times. The first additions were [[Greece]] and [[Turkey in NATO|Turkey]] in 1952. In May 1955, [[West Germany]] joined NATO, which was one of the conditions agreed to as part of the end of the country's occupation by France, the United Kingdom, and the United States, prompting the Soviet Union to form its own collective security alliance (commonly called the [[Warsaw Pact]]) later that month. Following the end of the [[Francoist Spain|Franco regime]], newly democratic [[Spain]] chose to join NATO in 1982.

In 1990, the negotiators reached an agreement that a [[reunified Germany]] would be in NATO under West Germany's existing membership. Following the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]] in 1991, many former Warsaw Pact and [[post-Soviet states]] sought to join NATO. [[Poland]], [[Hungary]], and the [[Czech Republic]] became NATO members in 1999, amid much debate within NATO itself and Russian opposition. NATO then formalized the process of joining the organization with "Membership Action Plans", which aided the accession of seven [[Central and Eastern Europe]] countries shortly before the [[2004 Istanbul summit]]: [[Bulgaria]], [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Romania]], [[Slovakia]], and [[Slovenia]]. Two countries on the [[Adriatic Sea]]{{mdash}}[[Albania]] and [[Croatia]]{{mdash}}joined on 1 April 2009 before the [[2009 Strasbourg–Kehl summit]]. The next member states to join NATO were [[Montenegro]] on 5 June 2017, and [[North Macedonia]] on 27 March 2020.

With several countries threatening to withdraw from the [[Warsaw Pact]], the Soviet military relinquished control of the organization in March 1991, allowing it to be formally dissolved that July.<ref>{{cite web |title= Warsaw Pact ends |website= History.com |url= https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/warsaw-pact-ends |access-date= 27 March 2023 |publisher= A&E Television Networks |date= 30 March 2021 |archive-date= 27 March 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327142342/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/warsaw-pact-ends |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://tvpworld.com/54629532/warsaw-pact-was-dissolved-30-years-ago |title= Warsaw Pact was dissolved 30 years ago |website= TVP World |date= 1 July 2021 |agency= PAP |access-date= 27 March 2023 |archive-date= 27 March 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230327153337/https://tvpworld.com/54629532/warsaw-pact-was-dissolved-30-years-ago |url-status= live }}</ref>

By August 1993, Polish President [[Lech Wałęsa]] was actively campaigning for his country to join NATO, at which time Yeltsin reportedly told him that Russia did not perceive its membership in NATO as a threat to his country. Yeltsin however retracted this informal declaration the following month,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://tvn24.pl/polska/20-lat-polski-w-nato-historia-wstapienia-do-sojuszu-ra917523-2294326 | title=20 lat temu Polska wstąpiła do NATO | date=2019-03-12 | website=TVN24 | access-date=2020-05-22 | language=pl | archive-date=31 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731005050/https://tvn24.pl/polska/20-lat-polski-w-nato-historia-wstapienia-do-sojuszu-ra917523-2294326 | url-status=live}}</ref> writing that expansion "would violate the spirit of the treaty on the final settlement" which "precludes the option of expanding the NATO zone into the East."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/12/russias-belief-in-nato-betrayal-and-why-it-matters-today | title=Russia's belief in Nato 'betrayal' – and why it matters today | newspaper=The Guardian | first=Patrick | last=Wintour | date=2022-01-12 | access-date=2022-01-21 | archive-date=20 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120112422/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/12/russias-belief-in-nato-betrayal-and-why-it-matters-today | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="russia_beyond_2014-10-16">{{cite news | url=http://rbth.com/international/2014/10/16/mikhail_gorbachev_i_am_against_all_walls_40673.html | title=Mikhail Gorbachev: I am against all walls | access-date=2022-01-31 | website=Russia Beyond | date=2014-10-16 | archive-date=31 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220131025347/https://www.rbth.com/international/2014/10/16/mikhail_gorbachev_i_am_against_all_walls_40673.html | url-status=live}}</ref> During one of [[James Baker]]'s 1990 talks with Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], Baker did suggest that the German reunification negotiations could have resulted in an agreement whereby "there would be no extension of NATO's jurisdiction for forces of NATO one inch to the east,"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/16116-document-05-memorandum-conversation-between | title=Memorandum of conversation between Baker, Shevardnadze and Gorbachev | date=1990-02-09 | access-date=2022-02-28 | work=National Security Archive | publisher=George Washington University | id=Briefing Book 613 | archive-date=5 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220305203351/https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/document/16116-document-05-memorandum-conversation-between | url-status=live}}</ref> and historians like Mark Kramer have interpreted it as applying, at least in thecertain Soviet Sovietsrepresentatives' understanding, to all of Eastern Europe.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016179_13953.pdf | title=The Myth of a No-NATO-Enlargement Pledge to Russia | last=Kramer | first=Mark | author-link=Mark Kramer | date=2009-04-01 | journal=[[The Washington Quarterly]] | volume=32 | issue=2 | pages=39–61 | doi=10.1080/01636600902773248 | issn=0163-660X | s2cid=154322506 | access-date=14 March 2022 | archive-date=10 January 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110165000/https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/journals/twq/v32i2/f_0016179_13953.pdf | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | title=Correspondence: NATO Enlargement—Was There a Promise? | last1=Kramer | first1=Mark | author-link=Mark Kramer | last2=Shifrinson | first2=Joshua R. Itzkowitz | date=2017-07-01 | journal=[[International Security (journal)|International Security]] | volume=42 | issue=1 | pages=186–192 | doi=10.1162/isec_c_00287 | s2cid=57571871 | issn=0162-2889}}</ref><ref name="Shifrinson_2016" /> Gorbachev later stated that NATO expansion was "not discussed at all" in 1990,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Schuette |first=Cody |date=2023-01-01 |title=Russian Disinformation on NATO Expansion and the War in Ukraine |url=https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/jss/vol16/iss4/3 |journal=Journal of Strategic Security |volume=16 |issue=4 |doi=10.5038/1944-0472.16.4.2125 |doi-broken-date=2 June 2024 |issn=1944-0464}}</ref> but, like Yeltsin, described the expansion of NATO past East Germany as "a violation of the spirit of the statements and assurances made to us in 1990."<ref name="Baker" /><ref name="russia_beyond_2014-10-16" /><ref name="Pifer">{{cite web | url=https://www.brookings.edu/2014/11/06/did-nato-promise-not-to-enlarge-gorbachev-says-no/ | title=Did NATO Promise Not to Enlarge? Gorbachev Says "No" | first=Steven | last=Pifer | author-link=Steven Pifer | date=2014-11-06 | publisher=Brookings Institution | access-date=23 April 2022 | archive-date=18 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518171916/https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2014/11/06/did-nato-promise-not-to-enlarge-gorbachev-says-no/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

This view, that informal assurances were given by diplomats from NATO members to the Soviet Union in 1990, is common in countries like Russia,<ref name="Shifrinson_2016" /><ref name="Sarotte_2014" /> and, according to political scientist [[Marc Trachtenberg]], available evidence suggests that allegations made since then by Russian leadership about the existence of such assurances "were by no means baseless."<ref name="Trachtenberg" /><ref>{{cite web |title=NATO Expansion: What Gorbachev Heard |url=https://nsarchive.gwu.edu/briefing-book/russia-programs/2017-12-12/nato-expansion-what-gorbachev-heard-western-leaders-early |website=nsarchive.gwu.edu |publisher=National Security Archive |access-date=13 May 2024}}</ref> Yeltsin was succeeded in 2000 by [[Vladimir Putin]], who further promoted the idea that guarantees about enlargement were made in 1990, including during [[Munich speech of Vladimir Putin|a 2007 speech in Munich]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://pism.pl/publikacje/Documents_Talk_NATORUSSIA_Relations_after_the_Cold_War | title=Documents Talk: NATO-Russia Relations After the Cold War | isbn=978-83-66091-60-3 | pages=375 | last1=Kupiecki | first1=Robert | last2=Menkiszak | first2=Marek | year=2020 | publisher=Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych | access-date=17 May 2021 | archive-date=9 December 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209092041/https://www.pism.pl/publikacje/Documents_Talk_NATORUSSIA_Relations_after_the_Cold_War | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Pifer" /> This impression was later used by him as part of his justification for [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's 2014 actions in Ukraine]] and the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/24/russia-nato-expansion-memory-grievances | title=Moscow's account of Nato expansion is a case of false memory syndrome | last1=Clark | first1=Christopher | author-link1=Christopher Clark | last2=Spohr | first2=Kristina | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=2015-05-24 | access-date=2021-06-26 | archive-date=25 May 2015 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20150525125802/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/24/russia-nato-expansion-memory-grievances | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Baker">{{cite news |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/09/us/politics/russia-ukraine-james-baker.html |title= In Ukraine Conflict, Putin Relies on a Promise That Ultimately Wasn't |first= Peter |last= Baker |newspaper= The New York Times |date= 9 January 2022 |access-date= 30 November 2022 |archive-date= 1 March 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220301223355/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/09/us/politics/russia-ukraine-james-baker.html |url-status= live}}</ref>

That year, Russian leaders like Foreign Minister [[Andrei Kozyrev]] indicated their country's opposition to NATO enlargement.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://issforum.org/roundtables/12-1-NATO | title=NATO Expansion in Retrospect | first1=Andrea | last1=Chiampan | first2=Alexander | last2=Lanoszka | first3=M. E. | last3=Sarotte | work=The International Security Studies Forum (ISSF) | date=2020-10-19 | access-date=14 March 2022 | archive-date=9 March 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309034213/https://issforum.org/roundtables/12-1-NATO | url-status=live}}</ref> While Russian President Boris Yeltsin did sign [[Russia–NATO relations#Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security|an agreement with NATO]] in May 1997 that included text referring to new membership, he clearly described NATO expansion as "unacceptable" and a threat to Russian security in his December 1997 National Security Blueprint.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_98meo02.html | title=NATO Eastward Expansion and Russian Security | journal=Strategic Analysis | year=1998 | volume=22 | number=8 | first=O.N. | last=Mehrotra | pages=1225–1235 | doi=10.1080/09700169808458876 | s2cid=154466181 | access-date=2022-01-21 | archive-date=12 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212231008/https://ciaotest.cc.columbia.edu/olj/sa/sa_98meo02.html | url-status=live}}</ref> Russian military actions, including the [[First Chechen War]], were among the factors driving [[Central and Eastern Europe]]an countries, particularly those with memories of similar Soviet offensives, to push for NATO application and ensure their long-term security.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cepa.org/irony-amid-the-menace | title=Irony Amid the Menace | date=2020-05-26 | access-date=2020-05-27 | website=CEPA | archive-date=31 July 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731003726/https://www.cepa.org/irony-amid-the-menace | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-14/news/-mn-20008_1_soviet20008-unionstory.html | title=Chechnya Summons Uneasy Memories in Former East Bloc | last=Murphy | first=Dean E. | date=1995-01-14 | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | access-date=2015-11-22 | issn=0458-3035 | archive-date=23 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123033414/http://articles.latimes.com/1995-01-14/news/mn-20008_1_soviet-union | url-status=live}}</ref> Political parties reluctant to move on NATO membership were voted out of office, including the [[Bulgarian Socialist Party]] in 1997 and Slovak [[People's Party – Movement for a Democratic Slovakia|HZDS]] in 1998.{{sfn|Barany|2003|pp=190, 48–50}} Hungary's interest in joining was confirmed by a [[1997 Hungarian NATO membership referendum|November 1997 referendum]] that returned 85.3% in favor of membership.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/17/world/hungarians-approve-nato-membership.html | title=Hungarians Approve NATO Membership | last=Perlez | first=Jane | date=1997-11-17 | work=[[The New York Times]] | access-date=2014-12-04 | archive-date=10 December 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210045418/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/17/world/hungarians-approve-nato-membership.html | url-status=live}}</ref> During this period, wider forums for regional cooperation between NATO and its eastern neighbors were set up, including the [[North Atlantic Cooperation Council]] (later the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]]) and the [[Partnership for Peace]].{{sfn|David|Levesque|1999|p=200–201}}

Croatia also started a Membership Action Plan at the 2002 summit, but was not included in the 2004 enlargement. In May 2003, it joined with [[Albania]] and Macedonia to form the [[Adriatic Charter]] to support each other in their pursuit of membership.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/12/09/feature-02 |title= Montenegro, BiH join Adriatic Charter |date= 12 September 2008 |first= Jusuf |last= Ramadanovic |author2= Nedjeljko Rudovic |work= [[Southeast European Times]] |access-date= 24 March 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081220115939/http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2008/12/09/feature-02 |archive-date= 20 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Croatia's prospect of membership sparked a national debate on whether a referendum on NATO membership needed to be held before joining the organization. Croatian Prime Minister [[Ivo Sanader]] ultimately agreed in January 2008, as part of forming a coalition government with the [[Croatian Peasant Party|HSS]] and [[Croatian Social Liberal Party|HSLS]] parties, not to officially propose one.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dalje.com/en-croatia/no-smoking-law-alcohol-limit-yes-referendum-no/111642 | title=No Smoking Law, Alcohol Limit-Yes, Referendum-No | work=Dalje | date=2008-01-04 | access-date=2015-01-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109232942/http://dalje.com/en-croatia/no-smoking-law-alcohol-limit-yes-referendum-no/111642 | archive-date=2015-01-09}}</ref> Albania and Croatia were invited to join NATO at the [[2008 Bucharest summit]] that April, though Slovenia threatened to hold up Croatian membership over [[Croatia–Slovenia border disputes|their border dispute]] in the [[Bay of Piran]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/world/europe/23croatia.html | title=Slovenia Border Spat Imperils Croatia's NATO Bid | work=[[The New York Times]] | first=Dan | last=Bilefsky | date=2009-03-22 | access-date=2015-01-09 | archive-date=18 July 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160718085933/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/world/europe/23croatia.html | url-status=live}}</ref> Slovenia did ratify Croatia's accession protocol in February 2009,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://dalje.com/en-croatia/slovenia-ratifies-croatias-accession-in-nato/232508 | title=Slovenia Ratifies Croatia's Accession in NATO | date=2008-02-09 | access-date=2015-01-09 | work=Dalje | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109232952/http://dalje.com/en-croatia/slovenia-ratifies-croatias-accession-in-nato/232508 | archive-date=2015-01-09}}</ref> before Croatia and Albania both officially joined NATO just before the [[2009 Strasbourg–Kehl summit]], with little opposition from Russia.<ref>{{cite news | url=httphttps://www.nbcnews.com/id/29995397/ns/world_news-europe/t/albania-croatia-become-nato-members/wbna29995397 | title=Albania, Croatia become NATO members | work=NBC News | agency=Associated Press | date=2009-04-01 | access-date=2015-01-09 | archive-date=9 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109232239/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29995397/ns/world_news-europe/t/albania-croatia-become-nato-members/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

{{further|Finland–NATO relations|Sweden–NATO relations}}

[[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine]] in 2014 and subsequent full-scale [[Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]] in 2022 led both countries to revisit their security and defence policies. Opinion polls in Finland shortly after the 2022 invasion for the first time showed a clear majority supported joining NATO.<ref>{{cite web |date=2022-02-24 |title=Finnish President: Putin's mask comes off, showing "cold face of war" |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-12332089 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226170755/https://yle.fi/news/3-12332089 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-25 |work=[[Yle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2022-03-14 |title=Yle poll: Support for Nato membership hits record high |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-12357832 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314133731/https://yle.fi/news/3-12357832 |archive-date=14 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-14 |work=[[Yle]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=2022-03-02 |title=PM Marin: Finland's Nato membership decision needs more time |url=https://yle.fi/news/3-12339857 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302181200/https://yle.fi/news/3-12339857 |archive-date=2 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-02 |work=[[Yle]]}}</ref> Support in Sweden also increased, with a poll from 4 March 2022 showing 51% in favour of NATO membership, the first time a poll had shown a majority supporting this position.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Jacobsen |first1=Stine |last2=Ahlander |first2=Johan |date=2022-03-04 |title=Majority of Swedes in favor of joining NATO -poll |url=https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/majority-swedes-favour-joining-nato-poll-2022-03-04/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309003554/https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/majority-swedes-favour-joining-nato-poll-2022-03-04/ |archive-date=9 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-04 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> Most major political parties in Sweden re-evaluated their positions on NATO membership, with many moving to support Swedish membership. On 15 May 2022, Finland's Prime Minister [[Sanna Marin|Marin]] announced at a joint press conference with President [[Sauli Niinistö|Niinistö]] that Finland would apply for NATO membership,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lehto |first=Essi |date=2022-05-15 |title=Finnish president confirms country will apply to join NATO |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finnish-president-confirms-his-country-will-apply-join-nato-2022-05-15/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220515103315/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finnish-president-confirms-his-country-will-apply-join-nato-2022-05-15/ |archive-date=15 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-15 |work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> while Swedish [[Prime Minister of Sweden|Prime Minister]] [[Magdalena Andersson]] announced that Sweden would apply for NATO membership on 16 May 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rolander |first=Niclas |date=2022-05-16 |title=Sweden Makes Formal Decision to Apply for NATO Membership |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-16/swedish-government-makes-formal-decision-to-apply-for-nato-entry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014062734/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-16/swedish-government-makes-formal-decision-to-apply-for-nato-entry |archive-date=14 October 2022 |access-date=2022-08-07 |work=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> Formal applications for membership were jointly submitted by both countries on 18 May 2022.<ref name="the_guardian_2022-05-1822">{{cite web |last=Henley |first=Jon |date=2022-05-18 |title=Sweden and Finland formally apply to join Nato |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/18/sweden-and-finland-formally-apply-to-join-nato |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518073117/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/18/sweden-and-finland-formally-apply-to-join-nato |archive-date=18 May 2022 |access-date=2022-05-18 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref> On the same day, [[Turkey]] quickly blocked the start of accession negotiations for Finland and Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rauhala |first=Emily |date=2022-05-18 |title=Turkey blocks start of NATO talks on Finland's and Sweden's applications |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/18/finland-sweden-nato-apply/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240428232936/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/05/18/finland-sweden-nato-apply/ |archive-date=2024-04-28 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2024-04-28}}</ref> On 28 June 2022, during the [[2022 Madrid summit|NATO summit]] in Madrid, Turkey agreed to support the accession bids of Finland and Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |last=Wright |first=George |date=2022-06-29 |title=Turkey supports Finland and Sweden Nato bid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-61971858 |newspaper=BBC News}}</ref>

According to the Russian defence minister [[Sergei Shoigu]], Finland's accession to NATO has significantly increased the risk of a wider conflict in Europe. Russia has 'threatened counter measure' by increasing the announced placement of nuclear weapons in [[Belarus]]. The move has doubled the length of the border that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shares with Russia.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-set-join-nato-historic-shift-while-sweden-waits-2023-04-04/ "Finland joins NATO in historic shift, Russia threatens 'counter-measures'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404212447/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finland-set-join-nato-historic-shift-while-sweden-waits-2023-04-04/|date=4 April 2023}} Reuters Europe. Accessed 4 April 2023.</ref><ref>Kauranen A., Gray A. (31 Mar 2023). ["Belarus might host strategic nuclear weapons, says Lukashenko Belarus might host strategic nuclear weapons, says Lukashenko"] ''AlJazeera''. Accessed 4 April 2023.</ref> Putin, however, has consistently dismissed Finland's and Sweden's accession to NATO<ref name=":121">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-24 |title=Russia's aggression against Ukraine leaves no room for negotiations |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/24/russias-aggression-against-ukraine-leaves-no-room-for-negotiations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805023600/https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/24/russias-aggression-against-ukraine-leaves-no-room-for-negotiations |archive-date=5 August 2023 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref> stating it poses "no threat to Russia".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Faulconbridge |first=Guy |date=2022-05-17 |title=Putin sees no threat from NATO expansion, warns against military build-up |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-calls-finland-sweden-joining-nato-mistake-with-far-reaching-consequences-2022-05-16/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021135339/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-calls-finland-sweden-joining-nato-mistake-with-far-reaching-consequences-2022-05-16/ |archive-date=21 October 2023 |access-date=2023-09-18 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

===Summary Tabletable and Mapmap===

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|+ NATO Aspirantaspirant Countriescountries<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49212.htm |title=Enlargement |access-date=2022-11-06 |publisher=[[NATO]] |archive-date=11 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021319/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49212.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

! Accession Protocolprotocol

[[File:Euromaidan Kyiv 1-12-13 by Gnatoush 005.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Euromaidan]] protests, thatwhich ousted [[Viktor Yanukovych]] from presidential office, attracted large numbers of Ukrainians in support of better ties with European countries.|alt=Dozens of blue and yellow Ukrainian flags are held aloft in a wide crowd.]]

In August 2014, the Russian military [[War in Donbas#August 2014 invasion by Russian forces|invaded eastern Ukraine]] to support its [[Russian separatist forces in Ukraine|separatist proxies]]. Because of this,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/russia-putin-crimea-idUKL6N0N921H20140417 | title=Putin admits Russian forces were deployed to Crimea | work=[[Reuters]] | date=2014-04-17 | quote="We had to take unavoidable steps so that events did not develop as they are currently developing in southeast Ukraine.&nbsp;... Of course our troops stood behind Crimea's self-defence forces." | access-date=5 July 2021 | archive-date=19 April 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419015007/http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/04/17/russia-putin-crimea-idUKL6N0N921H20140417 | url-status=livedead}}</ref> Yatsenyuk announced the resumption of the NATO membership bid,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28978699 | title=Ukraine to seek Nato membership, says PM Yatsenyuk | date=2014-08-09 | work=[[BBC News]] | access-date=2015-02-09 | archive-date=16 January 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116211306/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28978699 | url-status=live}}</ref> and in December 2014, Ukraine's parliament voted to drop non-aligned status.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30587924 | title=Ukraine votes to drop non-aligned status | work=[[BBC News]] | date=2014-12-23 | access-date=2014-12-23 | archive-date=8 March 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308014849/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30587924 | url-status=live}}</ref> NATO Secretary General [[Anders Fogh Rasmussen]] said membership was still an option.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.euronews.com/2014/02/26/door-to-nato-remains-open-for-ukraine/ | title=Door to NATO remains open for Ukraine | work=[[Euronews]] | date=2014-02-26 | access-date=2014-02-27 | archive-date=2021-01-18 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118035504/https://www.euronews.com/2014/02/26/door-to-nato-remains-open-for-ukraine}}</ref> Support for membership rose to 64 percent in government-held Ukraine according to a July 2015 poll,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/281737.html | title=Support for joining NATO considerably increases in Ukraine –poll | date=2015-08-03 | access-date=2015-08-04 | work=Interfax-Ukraine | archive-date=20 August 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820064915/http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/281737.html | url-status=live}}</ref> and polls showed that the rise in support for NATO was linked to Russia's ongoing military intervention.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-eu-nato-20140514-story.html | title=Russian aggression driving Ukrainians toward EU, NATO, poll finds | work=[[Los Angeles Times]] | first=Carol J. | last=Williams | date=2014-05-14 | access-date=2014-05-15 | archive-date=14 May 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514183910/http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-ukraine-russia-eu-nato-20140514-story.html | url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Візит Зеленського до інституцій ЄС і НАТО у Брюсселі, 2019, 1.jpg|thumb|Ukrainian President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] meeting with Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] in 2019.|alt=Two men in business suits stand at silver podiums, with a blue and yellow Ukrainian flag to their left and a blue and white NATO flags to their right.]]

During 2021, there were massive [[Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russian military build-ups near Ukraine's borders]]. In April 2021, President [[Volodymyr Zelenskyy]] said that NATO membership "is the only way to end the [[war in Donbas]]" and that a MAP "will be a real signal for Russia".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/ukraine-calls-for-path-into-nato-after-russia-masses-troops/ | title=Ukraine calls for path into NATO after Russia masses troops | date=2021-04-06 | work=EurActiv | access-date=7 April 2021 | archive-date=6 April 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210406225615/https://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/ukraine-calls-for-path-into-nato-after-russia-masses-troops/ | url-status=live}}</ref> Putin demanded that Ukraine be barred from ever joining NATO. Secretary General [[Jens Stoltenberg]] replied that Ukraine's relationship with NATO are a matter for Ukraine and NATO, adding that "Russia has no right to establish a [[sphere of influence]] to try to control their neighbors".<ref>{{cite news |title=NATO chief: "Russia has no right to establish a sphere of influence" |url=https://www.axios.com/nato-russia-ukraine-invasion-18619fd7-be80-4d37-86f8-fcebcb1fbe8a.html |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=1 December 2021 |access-date=17 December 2021 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214172403/https://www.axios.com/nato-russia-ukraine-invasion-18619fd7-be80-4d37-86f8-fcebcb1fbe8a.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Stoltenberg stated that Putin "actually sent a draft treaty that they wanted NATO to sign, to promise no more NATO enlargement. That was what he sent us. And was a pre-condition for not invade Ukraine. Of course we didn't sign that".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_218172.htm |title=Opening remarks |website=[[NATO]]}}</ref>

[[Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia invaded Ukraine]] in February 2022. In his [[On conducting a special military operation|speech announcing the invasion]], Putin [[Disinformation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine#Allegations of NATO aggression|falsely claimed]] that NATO military infrastructure was being built up inside Ukraine, threatening Russia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fact check: Russia's disinformation campaign targets NATO |url=https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-russias-disinformation-campaign-targets-nato/a-64675398 |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=13 February 2023 |access-date=17 May 2023 |archive-date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517224440/https://www.dw.com/en/fact-check-russias-disinformation-campaign-targets-nato/a-64675398 |url-status=live }}</ref> Russia's invasion drove Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership. In June 2022, Putin said their membership wasn't a problem for Russia, but Ukraine's membership is a "completely different thing" because of "territorial disputes".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Putin explains how Finland, Sweden membership in NATO different from Ukraine's |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/putin-explains-how-finland-sweden-membership-in-nato-different-from-ukraines/2627019 |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=www.aa.com.tr |archive-date=20 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230620122835/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/russia-ukraine-war/putin-explains-how-finland-sweden-membership-in-nato-different-from-ukraines/2627019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peter Dickinson of the [[Atlantic Council]] wrote that Putin's "dislike of NATO enlargement is real enough, but it has nothing to do with legitimate national security concerns. Instead, Putin objects to NATO because it prevents him from bullying Russia's neighbours".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-24 |title=Russia's aggression against Ukraine leaves no room for negotiations |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/24/russias-aggression-against-ukraine-leaves-no-room-for-negotiations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805023600/https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/24/russias-aggression-against-ukraine-leaves-no-room-for-negotiations |archive-date=5 August 2023 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=euronews |language=en}}</ref>

[[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] moved quickly following the [[Rose Revolution]] in 2003 to seek closer ties with NATO<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_38988.htm|title=Relations with Georgia|website=www.nato.int|access-date=20 September 2022|archive-date=2 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200502111525/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_38988.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> (although the previous administration had also indicated that it desired NATO membership a year before the revolution took place<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2002/s021122h.htm|title=Statement by President of Georgia Eduard Shevardnadze at the EAPC Summit|website=www.nato.int|access-date=20 September 2022|archive-date=12 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112144804/https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/2002/s021122h.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>). Georgia's northern neighbor, [[Russia]], opposed the closer ties, including those expressed at the [[2008 Bucharest summit]], where NATO members promised that Georgia would eventually join the organization.<ref name="reuters_2011-11-21">{{cite news | url=http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-60645720111121 | title=Russia says Georgia war stopped NATO expansion | date=2011-11-21 | work=[[Reuters]] | access-date=5 July 2021 | archive-date=9 November 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109093824/http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/11/21/idINIndia-60645720111121 | url-status=livedead}}</ref> Complications in the relationship between NATO and Georgia includes the presence of Russian military forces in internationally recognized Georgian territory as a result of multiple recent conflicts, like the 2008 [[Russo-Georgian War]] over the territories of [[Abkhazia]] and [[South Ossetia]], both of which are home to a large number of citizens of Russia. On 3 December 2008, NATO's 26 foreign ministers voted to reject a [[Membership Action Plan|Membership Action Plan (MAP)]] to Georgia, arguing that it would antagonize Russia and that Georgia needed to enact more reforms.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/setback-for-georgia-after-nato-rejection-1049064.html| title=Setback for Georgia after Nato rejection | date=3 December 2008 | work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=3 December 2008}}</ref> On 21 November 2011, [[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] while addressing soldiers in [[Vladikavkaz]] near the Georgian border stated that Russia's 2008 invasion had prevented any further NATO enlargement into the former [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] sphere.<ref name="reuters_2011-11-21" />

Following the accession of Finland and Sweden into NATO in 2023 and 2024 respectively, there hashave been renewed debates on Austria joining the bloc, similar to how Austria joined the EU alongside Finland and Sweden.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Walter |first1=Jan D. |title=Will Austria abandon neutrality to join NATO? |url=https://www.dw.com/en/will-austria-abandon-neutrality-to-join-nato/a-61880804 |website=[[Deutsche Welle]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Barber |first1=Tony |title=Rethinking neutrality in Europe |url=https://www.ft.com/content/307e2007-9f70-4a45-932e-abbff08628d3 |website=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gady |first1=Franz-Stefan |title=Why Neutrality Is Obsolete in the 21st Century |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/04/04/finland-sweden-nato-neutral-austria-ireland-switzerland-russia-war/ |website=[[Foreign Policy]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> On May 8, 2022, a coalition of politicians, diplomats, artists and business-peoplebusinesspeople wrote an open letter to the Austrian government asking them to review their commitment to neutrality,. howeverHowever, the only party to openly support the effort was [[NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum|NEOS]], withwhich justholds 15 of the 183 seats in the [[National Council (Austria)|National Council]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Austria — it’sit's time to join NATO |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/austria-its-time-to-join-nato-russias-invasion-ukraine-leopard-2-tanks-gas-membership-raiffeisen-bank-kronospan-and-egger/ |website=[[politico]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Zweiter offener Brief an den Bundespräsidenten, die Bundesregierung, den Nationalrat und die Bevölkerung Österreichs |url=https://www.unseresicherheit.org/#Offener-Brief-English |website=.unseresicherheit.org |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref> On March 3, 2023, another survey was held by the [[Austrian Society for European Politics]] on NATO ascension which found just 21% are in favor with 61% being against. This was, however, an increase of both 7% in favor, and 7% unsure, compared to the last survey just 10 months prior.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirez |first1=Timo |title=Clear majority of Austrians against NATO accession: Survey |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/world/clear-majority-of-austrians-against-nato-accession-survey/2887160 |website=[[Anadolu Agency]] |access-date=15 March 2024}}</ref>

In February 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Minister of Defense [[Armend Mehaj]] requested a permanent US military base in the country and an accelerated accession process to the organization, citing an "immediate need to guarantee peace, security and stability in the Western Balkans".<ref name="reuters_2022-02-27" /> On 3 March 2022, a resolution was passed by Kosovo's Parliament requesting that the government "take all necessary steps to join NATO, [[European Union]], [[Council of Europe]] and other international organizations".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.msn.com/en-xl/europe/top-stories/kosovo-parliament-urges-government-to-start-nato-membership-bid/ar-AAUyaRS | title=Kosovo parliament urges government to start NATO membership bid | date=2022-03-03 | url-status=deviated | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303151037/https://www.msn.com/en-xl/europe/top-stories/kosovo-parliament-urges-government-to-start-nato-membership-bid/ar-AAUyaRS | archive-date=2022-03-03 | website=MSN}}</ref>

When the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in 1949, the Mediterranean island of [[Malta]] was a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, one of the treaty's original signatories. As such, the [[Crown Colony of Malta]] shared the UK's international memberships, including NATO. Between 1952 and 1965, the headquarters of the [[Allied Forces Mediterranean]] was based in the town of [[Floriana]], just outside Malta's capital of [[Valletta]]. When Malta gained independence in 1964, prime minister [[George Borg Olivier]] wanted the country to join NATO. Olivier was concerned that the presence of the NATO headquarters in Malta, without the security guarantees that NATO membership entailed, made the country a potential target. However, according to a memorandum he prepared at the time he was discouraged from formally submitting a membership application by [[Deputy Secretary General of NATO]] James A. Roberts. It was believed that some NATO members, including the United Kingdom, were opposed to Maltese NATO membership. As a result Olivier considered alternatives, such as seeking associate membership or unilateral security guarantees from NATO, or closing the NATO headquarters in Malta in retaliation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/35813/when-borg-olivier-considered-closing-down-nato-base-20140203 | title=Cabinet minutes: Borg Olivier considered closing down NATO base | date=2014-02-14 | access-date=2022-06-19 | work=[[Malta Today]] | first=James | last=Debono | archive-date=20 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220620040824/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/35813/when-borg-olivier-considered-closing-down-nato-base-20140203 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19641024.2.104&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 | title=NATO Headache Seen In Malta Application | date=1964-10-24 | access-date=2022-06-19 | publisher=[[The Desert Sun]] | archive-date=12 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112144811/https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=DS19641024.2.104&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15867 | title=Malta's external security | date=February 1997 | access-date=2022-06-19 | first=Dominic | last=Fenech | journal=[[GeoJournal]] | volume=41 | issue=2 | pages=153–163 | doi=10.1023/A:1006888926016 | bibcode=1997GeoJo..41..153F | s2cid=151123282 | archive-date=12 January 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112144807/https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/15867 | url-status=live}}</ref> Ultimately, Olivier supported the alliance and signed a defense agreement with the UK for use of Maltese military facilities in exchange for around £2 million a year.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00927A004600110002-0.pdf | title=The Outlook for an Independent Malta | publisher=Central Intelligence Agency | year=1964 | location=Library – Reading Room | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122225657/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00927A004600110002-0.pdf | archive-date=2017-01-22 | access-date=2022-05-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltas-independence.691052 |title= Malta's independence |website= Times of Malta |date= 8 October 2018 |first1= Karl |last1= Flores |first2= San |last2= Ġwann |access-date= 5 April 2023 |archive-date= 5 April 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230405125753/https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/maltas-independence.691052 |url-status= live }}</ref>

Several other current NATO global partners have been proposed as candidates for full membership. In 2006, [[Ivo Daalder]], later the US Ambassador to NATO, proposed a "global NATO" that would incorporate democratic states from around the world, including Asia-Pacific partners [[Australia]], [[New Zealand]], [[Japan]], and [[South Korea]], collectively known as the [[Indo-Pacific Four]] (IP4),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Toyoda |first1=Yukiko |last2=Geddie |first2=John |date=9 July 2024 |title=Exclusive: Japan must strengthen NATO ties to safeguard global peace, PM says |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-must-strengthen-nato-ties-safeguard-global-peace-pm-says-2024-07-09/ |work=Reuters |location= |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.usip.org/programs/nato-and-indo-pacific-partners-understanding-views-and-interests | title=NATO and Indo-Pacific Partners: Understanding Views and Interests }}</ref> who all signed on as global partners in the 2010s, as well as Brazil, [[South Africa]], and [[India]].<ref name="Daalder" /> In 2007, then-US presidential candidate [[Rudy Giuliani]] suggested including [[Singapore]] and [[Israel]], among others.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4022640.html | title=NATO: the Australian experience | last=Woodroofe | first=Thom | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130219172836/http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/4022640.html | archive-date=2013-02-19 | access-date=2014-03-28 | newspaper=ABC | date=2012-05-12}}</ref> In 2020, Trump stated that Middle Eastern countries should be admitted to NATO.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/trump-nato-expansion-proposal-096772 | title='NATO plus ME': Trump proposes NATO expansion into Middle East | date=2020-09-01 | access-date=2022-06-03 | publisher=[[Politico]] | archive-date=3 June 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220603125623/https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/09/trump-nato-expansion-proposal-096772 | url-status=live}}</ref> Because of its close ties to Europe, [[Cape Verde]] has been suggested as a future member and the government of Cape Verde suggested an interest in joining as recently as 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://davidnoack.net/v2/2010/01/sprungbrett-nach-westafrika|title=Sprungbrett nach Westafrika – David X. Noack|website=davidnoack.net|access-date=4 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207012528/http://davidnoack.net/v2/2010/01/sprungbrett-nach-westafrika/|archive-date=7 February 2018|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ecofinagency.com/public-management/1410-40568-cape-verde-plans-security-treaty-with-nato|date=14 October 2019|work=[[Agence Ecofin]]|title=Cape Verde plans security treaty with NATO|access-date=28 November 2022|archive-date=28 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128061717/https://www.ecofinagency.com/public-management/1410-40568-cape-verde-plans-security-treaty-with-nato|url-status=live}}</ref>

* [https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49212.htm Official NATO enlargement site]