Albania and Croatia become NATO’s 27th and 28th members, just days before the North Atlantic Treaty Organization marks its 60th anniversary. NATO officials say that the inclusion of the two states, which until recently were at war, is a fitting occurrence given the importance of the six decade milestone being passed by the military alliance.

The North Atlantic Treaty was initially signed by twelve states in 1949, in an attempt to hinder the spread of communism throughout Europe. The addition of Croatia to the alliance was almost prevented by a recent border dispute with Slovenia, which only withdrew its veto two days prior. Croatia and Albania were initially invited to join NATO at the Bucharest Summit in April 2008, and Macedonia was denied ascension this week due to a naming conflict with Greece, officials say.

NATO members currently provide the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), a 55,000-strong military effort currently stationed in Afghanistan, Croatian ambassador Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic inferred after the U.S. State Department ceremony that his country is ready to commit resources to the ISAF effort in the area.

Aleksander Sallabanda, in speaking for Albania, communicated much the same message of desired contribution to the NATO peacekeeping mission in the Middle East — both leaders say that “common values” must be protected through all means possible. The NATO 60th anniversary summit will take place later this week in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany.

Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Britain, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal and the United States were the initial twelve states to sign the North Atlantic Treaty in April 1949, and since that date the Organization has more than doubled.

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