WHAT IS NATO?
* Taken directly from the NATO website
NATO is an Alliance that consists of 30 independent member countries. In 1949, there were 12 founding members of the Alliance: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.
NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. This is the principle of collective defense, which is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. So far, Article 5 has been invoked once — in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
NATO is an alliance of countries from Europe and North America. It provides a unique link between these two continents, enabling them to consult and cooperate in the field of defense and security, and conduct multinational crisis-management operations together.
Strategic Concepts lay down the Alliance’s core tasks and principles, its values, the evolving security environment and the Alliance’s strategic objectives for the next decade. The 2010 Strategic Concept defines NATO’s cores tasks as: collective defense, crisis-management and cooperative security.
Every day, member countries consult and take decisions on security issues at all levels and in a variety of fields. A “NATO decision” is the expression of the collective will of all 29 member countries since all decisions are taken by consensus. Hundreds of officials, as well as civilian and military experts, come to NATO Headquarters each day to exchange information, share ideas and help prepare decisions when needed, in cooperation with national delegations and the staff at NATO Headquarters.
NATO takes an active role in a broad range of crisis-management operations and missions, including civil emergency operations. NATO’s crisis-management operations are carried out under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate. Operations and missions include: Afghanistan, Kosovo, Securing the Mediterranean, and Supporting the African Union.
Around 40 non-member countries work with NATO on a wide range of political and security-related issues. These countries pursue dialogue and practical cooperation with the Alliance and many contribute to NATO-led operations and missions. NATO is also cooperating with a wide network of international organizations. Partner countries do not have the same decision-making authority as member countries. The Allies seek to contribute to the efforts of the international community in projecting stability and strengthening security outside NATO territory. One of the means to do so is through cooperation and partnerships. Over more than 25 years, the Alliance has developed a network of partnerships with non-member countries from the Euro-Atlantic area, the Mediterranean and the Gulf region, and other partners across the globe. NATO pursues dialogue and practical cooperation with these nations on a wide range of political and security-related issues. NATO’s partnerships are beneficial to all involved and contribute to improved security for the broader international community.
Partners are part of many of NATO’s core activities, from shaping policy to building defense capacity, developing interoperability and managing crises.
NATO’s programs also help partner nations to develop their own defense and security institutions and forces.
In partnering with NATO, partners can:
share insights on areas of common interest or concern through political consultations and intelligence-sharing;
gain access to advice and support as they reform and strengthen defense institutions and capacities;
participate in a rich menu of education, training and consultation events (over 1,200 events a year are open to partners through a Partnership Cooperation Menu);
prepare together for future operations and missions by participating in exercises and training;
share insights on areas of common interest or concern through political consultations and intelligence-sharing;
contribute to current NATO-led operations and missions;
share lessons learned from past operations and develop policy for the future;
work together with Allies on research and capability development.
Through partnership, NATO and partners also pursue a broad vision of security:
integrating gender perspectives into security and defense;
fighting against corruption in the defense sector;
enhancing efforts to control or destroy arms, ammunition and unexploded ordnance;
advancing joint scientific projects.
Partnership has evolved over the years, to encompass more nations, more flexible instruments, and new forms of cooperation and consultation.
NATO has always innovated and adapted itself to ensure its policies, capabilities and structures meet current and future threats, including the collective defense of its members.