Press kit

Key information, quotes and background (.PDF/65Kb)

Key texts

Washington Treaty, Article 10

Background

NATO Enlargement Membership Action Plan

Speeches

NATO: Enlarging and redefining itself, NATO Secretary General, 18 February 2002

Analysis

Not When but Who, James Goldgeier The Silence of the Bear, Dmitri Trenin Following in the Footsteps, Andrzej Karkoszka Can NATO Remain an Effective Military and Political Alliance..., Ronald Asmus and Charles Grant

New members

At the Prague Summit, NATO will continue its process of enlargement by inviting one or more aspirant countries to join the Alliance.

Ten countries are currently participating in NATO's Membership Action Plan: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1).

Since the signature of the Washington Treaty in 1949, seven additional countries have joined the original twelve member states in the Alliance: Greece and Turkey in 1952; Germany in 1955; Spain in 1982; and the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland in 1999.

Open door policy

NATO has an open door policy meaning that any European country in a position to further the principles of the Washington Treaty and contribute to security in the Euro-Atlantic area can become a member of the Alliance.

Countries aspiring for NATO membership are also expected to meet certain political, economic and military goals.

Membership Action Plan

In 1999, NATO launched a Membership Action Plan (MAP) designed to assist those countries which wish to join the Alliance in their preparations by providing advice, assistance and practical support on all aspects of NATO membership.

NATO is following the progress made by each aspirant and providing political and technical advice.

Participation in the MAP does not guarantee future membership. Decisions to invite aspirants are taken within NATO by consensus and on a case-by-case basis.

1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name.