What is NATO? NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area ” Basic points 01 A political and military alliance NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means
North Atlantic Treaty Organization | NATO NATO is a defensive alliance of 32 countries from Europe and North America Its mission is to defend its member countries and their one billion citizens
A short history of NATO A short history of NATO This page provides a quick overview of NATO history, from 1945 to present It is often said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was founded in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union This is only partially true
NATO’s purpose | NATO Topic NATO strives to secure a lasting peace in Europe and North America, based on its member countries’ common values of individual liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law These shared values unite a diverse group of Allies on both sides of the Atlantic NATO embodies the transatlantic bond between them, whereby the security of Allies in Europe and North America is inextricably linked
Founding treaty | NATO Topic The Washington Treaty – or North Atlantic Treaty – forms the basis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – or NATO The Treaty was signed in Washington D C on 4 April 1949 by 12 founding members The Treaty derives its authority from Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which reaffirms the inherent right of independent states to individual or collective defence Collective
The North Atlantic Treaty | NATO Official text 1 The definition of the territories to which Article 5 applies was revised by Article 2 of the Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of Greece and Turkey signed on 22 October 1951 2 On January 16, 1963, the North Atlantic Council noted that insofar as the former Algerian Departments of France were concerned, the relevant clauses of this Treaty had become inapplicable as
NATO member countries | NATO Topic Twelve countries from Europe and North America signed the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949 in Washington, D C
Collective defence and Article 5 | NATO Topic Collective defence is NATO’s most fundamental principle Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty states that an armed attack against one NATO member shall be considered an attack against them all Since 1949, this unwavering pledge has bound together a group of like-minded countries from Europe and North America, which have committed themselves to protecting each other in a spirit of solidarity
Deterrence and defence | NATO Topic Collective defence is at the heart of the Alliance, as set out in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty NATO's greatest responsibility is to protect and defend Allied territory and populations against attack in a world where peace and security cannot be taken for granted
Strategic Concepts | NATO Topic The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the authority in charge of adopting the Alliance’s strategic documents; the most recent Strategic Concepts have been adopted at NAC meetings at the level of Heads of State and Government during a NATO Summit