Since the end of the Cold War NATO has welcomed twelve new members into the Alliance.  The most recent - Albania and Croatia - formally joined the Alliance at the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit in April 2009.  Allies have also agreed to extend an invitation to Macedonia as soon as a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue has been reached.  The UK worked with all of these countries to help them in the reforms needed to secure membership of the Alliance.

The UK is convinced that NATO enlargement has been good for NATO and good for Europe. An enlarged and effective NATO contributes to enhanced security and stability in Europe. At the Strasbourg-Kehl Summit, the UK joined other Allies in supporting NATO's open door policy.

The UK continues to work with Macedonia as they make the necessary political, military and other reforms needed for NATO membership and prepare them to be an Ally.  The Membership Action Plan (MAP) provides a framework for engagement with NATO during the reform process. MAP is a programme of activities, along with a candid feedback mechanism, to assist aspiring nations in their preparations for possible future membership.

At the Bucharest Summit, Allies agreed that Georgia and Ukraine will one day become members of NATO and in December 2008, NATO Foreign Ministers agreed a package of increased cooperation with both countries. Further information on the UK’s work with both countries can be found on our NATO-Ukraine page and NATO-Georgia pages.

Following increased co-operation with Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro within the Partnership for Peace framework, at the Bucharest Summit.  Allies invited both countries to begin an “Intensified Dialogue” on the full range of political, military, financial, and security issues relating to their aspirations to membership. The UK also offers assistance to their reform efforts through the Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP).

The UK has demonstrated its commitment to helping all the aspirants with practical preparations to enable them to be as fully prepared for membership as possible. The UK’s bilateral defence co-operation with aspirants, run by the Ministry of Defence, contributes directly through assistance such as English language training, exercises and staff training in the UK and in the aspirant countries.