Even its strongest advocates recognise that such expansion raises questions about the purpose of the alliance: should it be mainly a military organisation, or a political club of democracies?

• 即使是北约最忠诚的拥护者也承认，这种扩张方式对北约的初衷提出了疑问：它应该是一个以军事为主的组织，抑或是一个民主政治的俱乐部？