"A larger, stronger NATO that includes Europe's new democracies will be even better able to provide for Europe's security and make America safer," says President Clinton.

"It will help deter future threats, expand our collective defense capability to address traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and secure the historic gains of democracy in Europe. It is a key part of our strategy to build an undivided, democratic, peaceful Europe for the first time in history."

President Clinton offers these comments in response to questions posed to him by 20 U.S. senators. Their exchange leads off a series of articles in this issue of U.S. Foreign Policy Agenda that examines U.S. policy on NATO enlargement as debate on this major issue enters a crucial phase -- the ratification process to admit Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic as members.

What concerns are important to the Clinton administration, Congress, and the American public as the debate on NATO enlargement begins on Capitol Hill? What criteria are being used in shaping U.S. policy and congressional viewpoints? How has NATO evolved in the post-Cold War era, and how has it become much more than a guarantor of military security?

This journal takes a look at these and other questions. In addition to the perspective that the president presents, the administration's principal spokesman on NATO enlargement offers a broad overview of U.S. policy, a former high-ranking U.S. military official addresses NATO enlargement from a military and security perspective, and the U.S. envoy to NATO assesses the organization's current role in global affairs. Also included are comments by U.S. senators closely involved in the congressional debate on NATO enlargement, an article explaining the role of Congress in the ratification process, a survey of U.S. public opinion polls on NATO enlargement, and commentary by a private-sector analyst addressing NATO's impact on democratic and economic institutions.

For continuous updates on U.S. policy related to NATO and NATO enlargement issues, please refer to the U.S. Information Service (USIS) home page entitled "The United States and the New Atlantic Community." It can be located on the World Wide Web at the following address: http://www.usia.gov/topical/pol/atlcomm/atlantic.htm.