Objections To And Advantages Of NatoMembership For

Objections To And Advantages Of Nato-Membership For Central And Eastern European Countries Essay, Research Paper

Introduction

In my essay I will discuss the objections to and advantages of NATO-membership for Central and Eastern European countries. First, I will give you a short historical profile of the post cold-war era.

In 1990 the Cold War officially ended. The two military alliances: NATO and the Warsaw Pact signed a treaty that stated they were no longer each others enemies and that they will advocate peace and stability in Europe and the world.

One year later, the Warsaw Pact collapsed. This left a ‘vacuum’, east of the NATO border. The natural reaction in the East was to ask for admission to NATO. Admission from Eastern European countries to NATO however brings many difficulties. NATO does not want to upset Russia, by expanding NATO to her former borders and eventually cannot prevent the admission of these countries to the Atlantic Alliance.

Not all Eastern European countries are at the same level of economic, military and democratic development. The four countries expected to join NATO first are: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

A good relationship with Russia is essential for the NATO countries. Russia does not see NATO as its potential adversary, but Russia is looking for a new role: keeping the status quo or returning to a system of ’spheres of influence’.

Germany, after unification, plays an important role in Central and Eastern Europe. Germany’s foreign policy towards these countries (’Ostpolitik’) is discussed in chapter 5.

In the end, I will give a personal conclusion on the next thesis, which will be the guideline to this essay.

Yes, NATO should allow Central and Eastern European states to become NATO-members.

Contents

Ch. Title page Source

0. Introduction

1. Practical Objections to admission

Eastern European countries

2. The Visegrad Four (Cz, Svk, H, Pl)

3. Russia’s discontent to

admission Eastern European countries

4. The Partnership for Peace,

the NACC and the CSCE

5. Germany’s post-unification

foreign policy

6. Conclusion

Chapter 1:

Practical Objections to Opening of doors for E European countries

Within the Western NATO countries there is not only fear of Russian reprisal (when allowing the countries to join NATO), there are also some practical objections.

A new member will be required to offer guarantees, including armed forces capable of integrating into NATO, compatible communication equipment and an agreed obligation to help any other member under military attack.

At this time, the Eastern European countries are only in the early stage of restructuring their forces aimed at forming Rapid Reaction Units (RRF). Some cannot defend their own territory. For good communication within NATO, the officers have to speak good English. In Poland, officers have already begun to learn the language.

The principal issue is: ‘Can the armed forces of Eastern Europe operate alongside existing NATO units in a peacekeeping role. ‘. In this matter, it is important that the Eastern European forces keep participating in joint military exercises (PFP). This will give the countries insight into the NATO operating procedures and will make their integration in the future much easier.

II. The Visegrad four

The four EE countries, first to join NATO in the future are the so-called Visegrad states or Visegrad Four: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. On 5 February 1991, they met in the village of Visegrad near Budapest (H) at an economic and political cooperation meeting.

The Visegrad four have the fastest developing economies and democracies in Central and Eastern Europe. Still, they have to prove their political and democratic credentials such as internal stability and support for democratic practise.

Due to the small populations of the Czech and Slovak republics and Hungary their armies can be formed in short time into a modern force. Such a force is capable of acting in NATO’s Rapid Reaction Units in the future. In this context, Poland has a difficult task in reforming its army (the largest), but still Poland has made the greatest efforts in restructuring its army so far.

Poland is the country that is most threatened by a resurgence of nationalism in Russia. Russia’s president nominee Vladimir Zhirinovsky said, that if he became president, he would immediately attack Poland and divide it into two separate parts: one Russian and one Polish part. The Poles are clearly cautious and want NATO membership as soon as possible.

Slovakia, the country with the largest economic and also ethnic problems is expected to join NATO behind the other 3 Visegrad states. Slovakia, therefore has a larger interest in reforming the internal politics and economy of the country, and has no direct urge to become NATO member.

The Czech Republic is very eager of becoming NATO member. Its economic reforms have proven successful and the country is becoming the economic spill of Central Europe. The Czech government has made it clear that it does not want Visegrad to become an ‘institutionalised bloc’, faintly reminiscent of the old Comecon or Warsaw Pa

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