NATO

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is an intergovernmental military alliance established on April 4, 1949. Its founding purpose is to promote mutual defense among its member countries in response to an attack by an external party. The organization is based on the principle of collective defense, as stated in Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which asserts that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all members.

NATO originally consisted of 12 countries from North America and Western Europe, but its membership has expanded to include 31 member states as of 2023. The alliance aims to ensure the freedom and security of its members through political and military means, facilitating cooperation on defense and security issues, crisis management, and conflict prevention among member nations. Additionally, NATO engages in partnerships with non-member countries to enhance global security and stability. Overall, NATO plays a significant role in international defense policy and military relations, adapting to emerging security challenges and evolving geopolitical dynamics.