NATO's Expansion Decision

Concerned by the ever looming threat of Soviet expansion, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created on April 4, 1949 for the sole purpose of promoting peace in Europe. It accomplished this goal through a trans-atlantic link that created an umbilical relationship between sovereign member nations and promoted peace through collective defense. It has prevailed in this endeavor since its inception and stopped Soviet aggression during the Cold War. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990, NATO's charter was fulfilled. Now, the organization struggles to redefine its post Cold War identity. In the midst of this colossal organizational identity crisis, many countries want the economic security and defense guarantees associated with the Cold War NATO. Anxious to appease prior adversaries and insure security to the Eastern European theater, the United States is supporting the gradual expansion of the Alliance.