How to Enlarge NATO: The Debate inside the Clinton Administration, 1993–95

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Published: Summer 2019

Russian President Boris Yeltsin invites U.S. President Bill Clinton to take a seat for bilateral talks at Moscow’s Kremlin, Wednesday, May 10, 1995.

Summary

Recently declassified documents reveal a heated debate within the Clinton administration about how to enlarge the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and when. Some administration officials supported a swift offer of full membership to a few countries. Others advocated a slower, phased approach to include a larger number of states. As a result of missteps by Russia, pressure from Central and East European leaders, and the success of the Republican Party in the 1994 midterm elections, proponents of full membership to a small number of states ultimately claimed success. This outcome continues to influence transatlantic and U.S.-Russian relations.

Recommended citation

M.E. Sarotte, “How to Enlarge NATO: The Debate inside the Clinton Administration, 1993–95,” International Security, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Summer 2019), pp. 7–41, doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00353.

History International Relations International Security & Defense International Security Program NATO North America Russia U.S. domestic politics

Recommended citation

M.E. Sarotte, “How to Enlarge NATO: The Debate inside the Clinton Administration, 1993–95,” International Security, Vol. 44, No. 1 (Summer 2019), pp. 7–41, doi.org/10.1162/ISEC_a_00353.