NATO is at a crucial point in its development: on the one hand, the European members are seeking to redefine its mission as the security challenges have radically changed since 1990. Another thorny issues is the security responsibilities of the member states. At the same time, there are nine central and eastern European nations which are seeking an invitation to join NATO: Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. There are general guidelines for evaluating nations seeking NATO membership; however, these guidelines are not a checklist that, when completed, would automatically guarantee membership. NATO members decide on the basis of consensus whether the admission of a state will serve the interests of the Alliance and promote European security and stability. These two issues form the primary parts of this book dealing with NATO.