THE AMERICAN DEBATE ON NATO EXPANSION

The outcome of the process of expanding NATO will largely be decided b y the US debate on the issue. This article evaluates the different sch ools represented in the American debate on NATO enlargement and descri bes how this issue has been handled by the administration and the Cong ress. Further, it defines and anlyses factors that are likely to decid e the outcome of the upcoming ratification debate in the Senate. The a rticle concludes that the proponents of NATO expansion will most likel y secure the necessary two-thirds majority, but several stumbling bloc ks still exist, making the final outcome far from certain.