President Biden is currently attending the NATO summit in Lithuania, where he is meeting with other world leaders. One of the key topics under discussion is Sweden’s potential admission into NATO. With the recent addition of Finland, bringing the total number of member nations to 31, Sweden’s inclusion could further expand the alliance to 32 countries. So, which countries are currently part of NATO and how does a country become a member?
As of July 2023, the NATO alliance consists of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the United States, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. In April 2023, Finland joined as the newest member, and now Sweden’s membership is the subject of discussions at the current NATO summit in Lithuania.
NATO plays a crucial role in ensuring the collective defense of its members. According to the treaty, NATO members agree that an armed attack against one member in Europe or North America will be considered an attack against all members. The alliance was initially formed as a response to the perceived threat from the Soviet Union, and as it evolved, NATO established relationships with former Soviet countries that became independent states. Many of these countries eventually joined NATO. In addition to defense cooperation, NATO member countries also collaborate on various issues and engage in crisis-management operations to prevent future threats. For example, NATO deployed its Implementation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995 to enforce the Dayton Peace Agreement and later replaced it with the Stabilisation Force to aid in the country’s reconstruction efforts. NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time ever after the 9/11 attacks in the U.S. and has continued to work together to counter terrorism, particularly in Afghanistan.
To become a NATO member, a country must meet certain criteria. NATO has an “open door policy” and invites any European country that can contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area and uphold the principles of the treaty. The country needs to have a functioning democratic system, treat minority populations fairly, and demonstrate a willingness to contribute militarily to NATO operations. All decisions regarding NATO membership, including the addition of new members, are made by consensus. NATO emphasizes that its expansion aims to promote stability, cooperation, and unity based on peace, democracy, and common values. Currently, NATO has been engaged in discussions with several countries expressing interest in joining, including Ukraine and Georgia, and Finland’s membership was approved in April 2023.
Not all European Union (EU) countries are part of NATO. However, NATO and the EU have 22 member countries in common and maintain a partnership. This partnership allows the EU to access NATO’s planning capabilities for its own military operations. Similarly to NATO, EU members signed treaties to establish closer cooperation, such as the treaty creating interdependence in coal and steel to enhance transparency and prevent unilateral mobilization of armed forces. Among the EU member countries, Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta, and Sweden (soon to be a NATO member) are not part of NATO. On the other hand, there are NATO members that are not part of the EU, including Albania, Canada, Iceland, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
This year’s NATO summit is primarily focused on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. While NATO explicitly states that it is not at war with Russia, it has increased its troop presence in Eastern European countries and supports Ukraine’s right to self-defense. NATO’s goal is to prevent the spread of the conflict into its member nations, as that would have severe consequences. NATO’s official policy is to avoid confrontation with Russia and not to pose a threat to it. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed concerns about NATO’s expansion into Eastern Europe. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine has expressed his desire for Ukraine to become a NATO member, believing it would have prevented the war. However, at the current summit, NATO members have decided not to include Ukraine yet due to concerns about the ongoing war and the obligations of collective defense.
Overall, the NATO summit in Lithuania is an important gathering of world leaders focused on strengthening international cooperation, addressing regional security challenges, and considering the expansion of NATO with the potential inclusion of Sweden.
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