§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the conditions under which countries are eligible to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryI have been asked to reply.
There are no fixed criteria for membership of NATO. Article 10 of the Washington treaty allows the members of the alliance, by unanimous agreement, to offer membership to any other European state which is in a position to further the principles of the alliance and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.