Explained | How does a nation secure NATO membership?

It was decided in 2008 Bucharest Summit that Georgia and Ukraine would become members of the organisation in future.

The story so far: News agency AFP reported on March 8 that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would no longer press for his country’s membership at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Ukraine’s interest in securing membership of the organisation has been at the centre of its geopolitical tensions with Russia. Ukraine’s dialogue and cooperation with the NATO goes back to 1991 when the newly-carved-out country joined the North Atlantic Cooperation Council, and later, the Partnership for Peace Programme in 1994. In 2017, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted legislation reinstating membership in the organisation as its strategic foreign and security policy objective. A corresponding amendment to its Constitution was enforced in 2019.

In 2020, President Mr. Zelenskyy approved the National Security Strategy which provided for the development of a distinctive partnership with the organisation, and in turn, secure the membership.

At the 2008 Bucharest Summit, it was agreed that Georgia and Ukraine would become members of the alliance in future. The latest announcement, therefore, puts the entire process in doubt.  

North Atlantic Treaty, often referred to as the Washington Treaty, states the parties to the treaty seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. The signatories affirm their faith in the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and express their desire to live in peace with all people and governments, the treaty states.

“They are resolved to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the preservation of peace and security,” the text of the treaty reads.

Article 10 of the treaty provides for entry of a new member to accede to the treaty by unanimous agreement of the existing members. 

Once the member countries have established consensus about a country’s potential membership, it is called upon to initiate accession talks with the alliance.