Abstract:

During the 1990's, NATO's enlargement became a constant of Amercian foreign policy. It was intended to do for the Eastern half of Europe what the Alliance has done for the Western half: to deploy a security umbrella for the reinforcement of democracy and the facilitation of integration. These twin aims gave rise to some of the most profound changes in American thinking on Europe and NATO: while maintaining their engagement in NATO for collective security, the United States are encouraging it to adopt a new strategic concept which makes the defense of western values and interests a priority, even beyond the immediate frontiers of the West. The strength of this vision is confirmed by the Senate's ratification of the Alliance's enlargement in 1998. But the September 11 attacks change the state of play: by reinforcing the U.S. interest in the consolidation of peace in Europe, by reinvigorating the executive's role in the conduct of foreign policy and by eliminating the risk of a confrontation with Russia, the enlargment issue has been overtaken by questions relating to the role and the organisation of the Alliance in the face of new threats.


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