Reuters - 05.08.2003

 

U.S. Approves NATO Expansion

Thu May 08, 2003 10:26 AM ET 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Thursday formally backed NATO's expansion, with the Senate voting unanimously to add seven Eastern European nations to the military alliance.

With a number of NATO ministers in the chamber, the U.S. Senate voted 96-0 to add Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The NATO ministers were to meet President Bush later in the day at a White House Rose Garden ceremony as member nations struggle to reshape and revive the alliance amid differences over the U.S.-led war to oust Saddam Hussein from Iraq.

The U.S. House of Representatives does not have to vote on the protocol. So far Canada and Norway are the only other countries to ratify the expansion, which must be approved by all member nations.

'This is historic for these seven countries, vital in continuing to strengthen the North Atlantic alliance, and central to U.S. security and relationship in the world,' said Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar.

'Many observers will point to the split over Iraq as a sign that NATO is failing or irrelevant. I disagree,' the Indiana Republican said, adding he was confident U.S. support for NATO expansion would help repair relations with allies.

Sen. John McCain, an Arizona Republican who has blasted France for trying to block the war, said the United States received 'significant political and logistical support' from the seven nations for the Iraq war.

'NATO's new members will be solid allies that will expand NATO's reach, amplify its voice and enhance its moral authority to defend freedom, including against the threat of global terrorism,' McCain said.

While some critics have questioned whether the seven countries have sufficient military muscle, backers said they bring nearly 200,000 troops into the alliance.