The Slovakian parliament have overwhelmingly approved the country's membership in the NATO alliance, with only 11 of 136 legislators present voting against the bill.
Prime Minister Mikulas Dzurinda hailed the historic vote, saying he was "happy with today's decision, because all Slovakian citizens and the entire country will be able to benefit from the highest level of security" as a result of the country joining NATO.
"We are today witness to one of the most important decisions taken by the Slovakian parliament since it came into being," he told reporters after the vote.
One hundred twenty-four legislators out of 136 approved the membership, 11 members of the Communist party voted against, and one parliamentarian abstained.
The treaty still has to be signed by President Rudolf Schuster before it has the force of law.
Slovakia, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia were all invited to join NATO next year, during a summit in November in Prague.
AFP