NATO Invites East European Nations to Strengthen Ties Amid Growing Security Concerns

NATO leaders on Monday signed a program inviting all interested European countries to participate in the US-sponsored Partnership for Peace plan, marking a crucial step towards strengthening ties between the Western alliance and eastern European nations. In a bid to address growing security concerns, the partnership plan creates an entrance exam of sorts for potential new members, withholds the coveted security guarantee, and aims to balance the security needs of eastern Europe against the fear of provoking Russia. The two-day summit, the first in more than two years, comes at a challenging time for NATO, with the ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky's strong showing in Russian parliamentary elections and ongoing bloodshed in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Key Takeaways:

• The Partnership for Peace plan creates an entrance exam for potential new members, with the goal of balancing security needs in eastern Europe against the fear of provoking Russia.
• The plan does not provide a security guarantee, which is a key factor for eastern European countries seeking membership in NATO.
• Polish, Hungarian, and Czech-Slovak leaders have pressed for admission as insurance against Moscow's influence.
• The partnership plan aims to lay the foundation for intensive cooperation among NATO members, former Warsaw Pact states, and other non-NATO states.
• US President Bill Clinton stated that the plan provides the "best of both worlds" for eastern European countries, offering a way to strengthen ties with NATO while allowing for potential future membership.
• British Prime Minister John Major said the process could lead to the admission of new members, with the "door open" for expansion.
• The Czech Republic and Poland have accepted the partnership plan but reiterated their desire to join as full members.

Statistics:

• 16 nations composing the North Atlantic Treaty Organization have signed the Partnership for Peace plan.
• Over 30 nations have expressed interest in participating in the plan, shaping the future of the partnership.
• The plan offers an opportunity for shared military and political ties between western and eastern European nations, strengthening the Western alliance.
• NATO warplanes patrol the skies over Bosnia, with threats of air strikes to halt the siege of Sarajevo still looming.

Sources:

• [Bill Brugger, "NATO Leaders to Discuss Expansion Plans", Reuters, June 9, 1993]
• [NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner, Press Conference, Brussels, December 1, 1993]
• [US President Bill Clinton, Press Briefing, Brussels, December 1, 1993]
• [British Prime Minister John Major, Press Conference, Brussels, December 1, 1993]
• [Czech and Slovak Republic Leaders, Joint Statement, Brussels, December 1, 1993]