U.S. lobbies NATO to expand

TIRANA, Jan. 22 – The international press is reporting on U.S. efforts of lobbying to add to NATO three new members, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia.
NATO is expected to issue membership invitations to the three Balkan countries this spring in yet another round of enlargement championed by the United States, alliance diplomats said Monday, according to the Washington Times.
Diplomats spoke of a “strong current” developing in favor of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia; countries that are already making significant contributions to NATO’s ongoing operations in Afghanistan and Kosova.
These countries, with NATO’s full support, have also made significant progress in defense-sector reforms.
The alliance has yet to formally discuss further expansion, but there appears to be a consensus that the country most deserving of an invitation is Croatia. The smaller and poorer Albania and Macedonia still have a lot of work to do, officials said.
Many analysts question whether NATO is ready for another wave of enlargement, only four years after seven former communist countries increased the allies’ number to 26.
Both diplomats and analysts predict a heated debate on the issue in the next two months.