[19980408]97-249_北约扩大与前欧洲中立国.pdf

1Louis Golino, Sarah Cambridge and Celina Ramjou participated in the preparation and/orupdating of this report.Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS Web97-249 FUpdated April 8, 1998NATO Enlargement and the Former European Neutrals(name redacted)Senior Specialist in International Security PolicyForeign Affairs and National Defense Division1SummaryWith the NATO enlargement process now underway, Europes former neutralstates Austria, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Ireland are re-evaluating the rolethey should play in the changing European security setting. In Austria, there is a majorpolitical debate dividing partners in the governing coalition over whether or not to seekNATO membership. The key role of NATO in European security has created bothopportunities and dilemmas for the former neutrals. On the one hand, their governmentsrecognize that the new global environment has removed the Cold War rationale for aposture as a “neutral” in the international system. On the other hand, many people inthese countries still value to a degree their countrys nonalignment. Political elites aredivided concerning how to advance their c