Debate in the US senate on NATO enlargement.

NATO enlargement has been an important issue on the international security agenda in 1997 and as the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland have been invited to join NATO the US Senate is preparing for the ratification of this enlargement. Dr. Stephen A Cambone here looks at the debate in the Senate on NATO enlargement and at the worries which Senators have voiced concerning the process. The concerns fall into three categories: the problem of burdensharing—are the Europeans willing to con‐tribute their share of the cost? Future enlargement—if the costs of the first enlargement creates problems, will it be possible to enlarge even further in a second round? And lastly, Russia's relations to the West and its reaction to the enlargement. Dr Cambone argugs that the Senate is fully aware of the important of Europe to American security and of an enlarged NATO to Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]