Alarmed at the rise of Russian nationalism, the United States, prompted in part by Germany, has picked up the pace of its push to include east European nations in NATO.
Washington is seeking a clear commitment to expand the Western alliance at next month's NATO summit here, according to alliance sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.But France is wary of giving the alliance a lead role in shaping Europe's future security, the sources said, and has resisted opening NATO's ranks to its former Cold War enemies.
Hungary, Poland and the Czech and Slovak republics are eager to join NATO as political instability in Russia increases. NATO also seeks closer ties with eastern Europe, but it doesn't want to alienate Moscow.
Russian President Boris Yeltsin opposes any NATO move to eventually absorb Moscow's former allies. But Washington has become more assertive since the strong showing of nationalists in the Dec. 12 Russian elections.
NATO Secretary-General Manfred Woerner urged the allies to show "vigilance and cohesion" - the type of language more commonly heard during the Cold War.
Woerner wants a clear signal from the Jan. 10-11 summit that NATO will enlarge, one official said.
NATO has already started the process with its "Partnership for Peace," a program of military and political collaboration with east European nations. The program is to become NATO policy at the January meeting here of President Clinton and the other 15 allied leaders.
Washington and Bonn, both instrumental in drafting the program, plan to make the program a step toward future NATO membership.
The partnership program provides for cooperation in peacekeeping, crisis management and joint military exercises. It also extends Western help in drafting defense budgets and securing civilian control over militaries as eastern European countries convert defense industries to civilian use.