The United States and the NATO Non-extension Assurances of 1990: New Light on an Old Problem?

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Published: Winter 2020/21

Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze, French foreign minister Roland Dumas, GDR foreign minister Markus Meckel, Federal Germany foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher, UK foreign minister Douglas Hurd, and U.S. foreign minister James Baker pictured on the podium at the first 'Two Plus Four' conference in Bonn, Germany, 05 May 1990. It was the first meeting on the way to the Two Plus Four Agreement between the two Germanies and the Four Powers that agreed on the Reunification of Germany.

Summary

The Russian government has claimed that the Western powers reneged on their promise in 1990 not to expand NATO. An examination of the debate in light of the evidence leads to the conclusion that the Russian allegations are by no means baseless, which affects how the U.S.-Russian relationship today is to be understood.

Recommended citation

Marc Trachtenberg, "The United States and the NATO Non-extension Assurances of 1990: New Light on an Old Problem?" International Security, Vol. 45, No. 3 (Winter 2020/21), pp. 162-203, doi.org/10.1162/isec_a_00395.