6 steps to Latvias full membership of NATO
| 1st STEP Accession talks and the reform plan |
December 2002 March 2003
Accession talks and preparation of the reform plan:
- 4 December 2002 first round of accession talks
- 11 December 2002 second round of accession talks
- January 2003 preparation of the reform plan
- January-February 2003 visits to Latvia by NATO experts on information security, economic and military issues
- 4 February 2003 meeting between Latvia and the nineteen NATO member states in Brussels to discuss the reform plan
| 2nd STEP A letter from Latvias Minister of Foreign Affairs to Mr Lord Robertson |
March 2003
A letter from Latvias Minister of Foreign Affairs Sandra Kalniete is sent to NATO Secretary General Lord Robertson, confirming Latvias readiness to become a member state of the Alliance. Latvias reform plan is submitted together with the letter.
| 3rd STEP Preparation and signing of the Accession Protocols |
March 2003
The North-Atlantic Treaty Protocol stipulating Latvias membership of the Alliance is drafted. The Protocol is signed by the nineteen NATO member states.
| 4th STEP Ratification of the Accession Protocol |
March 2003 - 2004
Ratification of the Accession Protocol in the parliaments of the NATO member states. The ratification process takes place in each member state according to nationally determined endorsement procedures.
| 5th STEP Ratification by the Latvian Saeima (parliament) |
Beginning of 2004
Ratification of the Accession Protocol by the Latvian Saeima (Parliament) and its official deposition with the US State Department.
| 6th STEP Latvia becomes a full member of NATO |
May 2004
Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government, at which Latvia is declared a full-fledged NATO member state.
