Austria has been given approval to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) by its Foreign Ministry.
In a significant shift, Austria's Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has proposed a national debate on the possibility of NATO membership, acknowledging that neutrality alone may no longer provide adequate protection amidst Russia's growing aggression [1][2][3].
Since 1955, Austria has been constitutionally neutral, adhering to this doctrine while participating in NATO's Partnership for Peace and EU defence cooperation, but without full membership [1][2]. A 2023 Gallup poll revealed that only 21% of Austrians favour NATO membership, while 61% are opposed [1][2].
Meinl-Reisinger's comments have reignited debate, but they have faced political opposition, particularly from the right-wing Austrian Freedom Party, which is closely aligned with Russia and strongly against NATO accession [2]. Austria is increasing its military spending and modernising its defence, but it is set on a slower militarisation path than its NATO peers [1].
Interestingly, the WEP4 (Western European Partners) group, which includes Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, and Malta, proposed enhanced cooperation with NATO in a letter sent to the alliance in late 2023, following NATO's expansion to include Sweden and Finland [4]. The WEP4 countries described themselves as "the closest partners of the bloc in shared values" [4].
Notably, former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has stated that Austria will not follow Finland and Sweden into NATO, emphasising the importance of maintaining neutrality while cooperating with NATO in other ways [4].
As of July 2025, while the situation regarding Austrian neutrality has significantly changed, no formal move towards accession has been made, and public and political consensus remains lacking [1][2][3][5].
[1] Vedomosti, July 27, 2025 [2] The Guardian, August 1, 2025 [3] BBC News, August 3, 2025 [4] Reuters, August 5, 2025 [5] Gallup Poll, 2023
News reports have highlighted the controversial proposal by Austria's Foreign Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, suggesting a national debate about Austria joining NATO, amidst growing concerns over Russia's politics and aggression. Despite the increasing tension, a general-news poll reveals that only a minority of Austrians support NATO membership, while the majority opposes it.
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