:''NATO is also an acronym for the National_Association_of_Theatre_Owners.
Image:Flag_of_NATO.svg
Image:NATO-2002-Summit.jpg
The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organisation''' ('''NATO'''), sometimes called '''North Atlantic Alliance''', '''Atlantic Alliance''' or the '''Western Alliance''', is an international organisation{{fn|1}} for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North_Atlantic_Treaty signed in Washington,_D.C., on April_4, 1949. Its headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium. Its other official name is the French equivalent, ''l'Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique du Nord'' (''OTAN'').
==Purpose==
The core of NATO is '''Article V''' of the NATO Treaty, which states:
:''The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the Charter_of_the_United_Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.''
This provision was intended so that if the USSR and its allies launched an attack against any of the NATO members, it would be treated as if it was an attack on all member states. This marked a significant change for the United States, which had traditionally favoured isolationist policies. However, the feared invasion of Western Europe never came. Instead, the provision was invoked for the first time in the treaty's history on September_12, 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks on the United States the day before.
NATO_Summit_2006 will take place in Latvia.
==History==
===Chronology of events===
Image:NATO_March_29_2004.jpg
*March_17, 1948: The Benelux countries, France, and the United_Kingdom sign the Treaty_of_Brussels, a precursor to the NATO Agreement.
*April_4, 1949: North Atlantic Treaty is signed in Washington, DC.
*May_14, 1955: Warsaw_Pact treaty is signed in Warsaw by the Soviet_Union and its Satellite_states as a formal response to NATO. Both organisations are opposing sides in the Cold_War. After the fall of the Iron_Curtain in 1989, the Warsaw Pact disintegrates.
*1966: Charles_de_Gaulle removes French armed forces from NATO's integrated military command to pursue its own nuclear defence programme. All non-French NATO troops are forced to leave France. This precipitates the relocation of the NATO Headquarters from Paris, France to Brussels, Belgium by October_16, 1967. While the political headquarters are located in Brussels the military headquarters, the Supreme_Headquarters_Allied_Powers_Europe (SHAPE), are located just south of Brussels, in the town of Mons.
*July_1, 1968: The Nuclear_Non-Proliferation_Treaty opened for signature. NATO argued its Nuclear_weapons_sharing arrangements did not breach the treaty as U.S. forces controlled the weapons until a decision is made to go to war, at which point the treaty would no longer be controlling. Few states knew of the NATO nuclear sharing arrangements at that time, and they were not challenged.
*May_30, 1978 NATO countries define two complementary aims of the Alliance, to maintain security and pursue Détente. This is supposed to mean matching defences at the level rendered necessary by the Warsaw_Pact's offensive capabilities without spurring a further Arms_race.
*December_12, 1979 In light of a build-up of Warsaw_Pact nuclear capabilities in Europe, ministers approved the deployment of US Cruise and Pershing_II theatre nuclear weapons in Europe. The new warheads are also meant to strengthen the western negotiating position in regard to nuclear disarmament.
*May_30, 1982: Spain joins the alliance.
*1983-84: Responding to the stationing of Warsaw Pact SS-20 medium-range missiles in Europe, NATO deploys modern Pershing II missiles able to reach Moscow within minutes. This action leads to bitter Peace_movement protests throughout Western Europe.
*May 1984: A NATO manoeuvre codenamed Able_Archer, which simulates a NATO response to a Soviet nuclear attack, causes panic in the Kremlin. Soviet leader Yuri_Andropov becomes concerned that U.S. President Ronald_Reagan intends to launch a real First_strike, and places Soviet nuclear forces at full readiness. Only after the collapse of the Soviet Union does it become clear that US intelligence had mistaken real Soviet nervousness for propaganda efforts.
*October_3, 1990: With the Reunification_of_Germany, the former East_Germany becomes part of the Federal_Republic_of_Germany and the alliance. This had been agreed in the Two_Plus_Four_Treaty earlier in the year. To secure Soviet approval of united Germany remaining in NATO, it is agreed that there will be no new foreign military bases in the east, and that nuclear weapons will not be permanently stationed there.
*March_31, 1991: The Warsaw Pact comes to an end. It is officially dissolved on July_1, 1991. The Soviet Union collapses in December of the same year.
*February_8, 1994: NATO takes its first military action, shooting down two Bosnian Serb aircraft violating a UN No-fly_zone over central Bosnia_and_Herzegovina. NATO airstrikes the following year help bring the war in Bosnia to an end, resulting in the Dayton_Agreement.
*July_8, 1997: Three former communist countries, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Poland, are invited to join NATO. They join in 1999.
*March_24, 1999: NATO sees its first broad-scale military engagement in the Kosovo_War, where it wages an 11-week bombing campaign against what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, aimed at preventing the alleged Ethnic_cleansing of Albanians. It ends on June_11, 1999, when Yugoslavian leader Slobodan_Milošević agrees to NATO's demands.
*April 1999: At the Washington summit, Germany proposes that NATO adopt a No-first-use Nuclear_strategy; the proposal is rejected.
*September_12, 2001: NATO provisionally invokes, for the first time in its history, the collective security clause of its charter. Article 5 states that any attack on a member state is considered an attack against the entire alliance. This comes in response to the September_11,_2001_Terrorist_Attack against the United States.
*October_5, 2001: NATO confirms the invocation of Article 5, having determined that the attacks of 11_September were eligible under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty. http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2001/1001/e1002a.htm
*November_21, 2002: During the Prague summit, seven countries are invited to start talks in order to join the Alliance: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania. The invited countries join NATO on March_29, 2004. Further countries express the wish to join the alliance, including Albania, the Republic_of_Macedonia, and Croatia. The summit also launches the NATO_Response_Force (NRF).
*February_10, 2003: NATO faces a crisis when France and Belgium veto the procedure of silent approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with Iraq. Germany does not use its right to break the procedure but says it supports the veto.
Image:NATO_Defense_Ministerial_Conference_in_Nice_2005.jpg
*April_16, 2003: NATO agrees to take command in August of the International_Security_Assistance_Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The decision comes at the request of Germany and the Netherlands, the two nations leading ISAF at the time of the agreement. All 19 NATO ambassadors approve it unanimously. The handover of control to NATO takes place on August_11, and marked the first time in NATO's history that it takes charge of a mission outside the north Atlantic area. Canada had originally been slated to take over ISAF by itself on that date.
*June_19, 2003: A major restructuring of the NATO military commands begins as the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic was abolished and a new command, Allied_Command_Transformation (ACT), was established in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) became Allied_Command_Operations (ACO). ACT is responsible for driving transformation (future capabilities) in NATO, whilst ACO is responsible for current operations.
*March_29, 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO.
===Member states===
Image:Map_of_NATO_countries.png
Greece and Turkey joined the initial 12 members of the organisation in February 1952. Germany joined as West Germany in 1955 and German_reunification on October_3, 1990 extended the membership to the areas of the former German_Democratic_Republic which became part of the Federal_Republic_of_Germany. Spain was admitted on May_301982, and the former Warsaw_Pact countries of Poland, Hungary and the Czech_Republic made history by becoming members on March_121999.
France is a member of NATO, but it withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966. Following this decision, the NATO_headquarters was moved from Paris to Brussels. Iceland, the sole member of NATO which does not have its own military force (the Icelandic_Defense_Force being the United States Military contingent permanently stationed in Iceland), joined on the condition that they would not be expected to establish one.
Greece withdrew its forces from NATO’s military command structure from 1974 to 1980 as a result of Greco-Turkish tensions following the 1974 Cyprus_dispute.
The former Warsaw_Pact countries of Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania officially acceded to NATO on March_292004. They attended their first NATO meeting in April 2004.
Albania, Croatia, and the F.Y.R. of Macedonia are the three countries currently in the NATO MAP (Membership Action Programme); they are likely to join NATO in the future.
====Founding members (April 4, 1949)====
Image:NATO_expansion.png
* {{BEL}}
* {{CAN}}
* {{DEN}}
* {{FRA}}, withdraws in 1966 from the integrated command and all foreign NATO forces leave France
* {{ISL}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{LUX}}
* {{NLD}}
* {{NOR}}
* {{POR}}
* {{UK}}
* {{USA}}
====States that joined during the Cold_War====
* {{GRC}} (February_18, 1952)
* {{TUR}} (February_18, 1952)
* {{GER}} (May_9, 1955 as West_Germany)
* {{ESP}} (May_30,1982)
====Former Eastern_Bloc states that joined after the Cold War====
'''1999:'''
* {{CZE}} (May_27, 1999)
* {{HUN}} (May_27, 1999)
* {{POL}} (May_27, 1999)
'''2004:'''
* {{BUL}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{EST}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{LAT}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{LTU}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{ROM}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{SVK}} (March_29, 2004)
* {{SVN}} (March_29, 2004)
===Non-member states===
====Partner countries====
''Main article: Euro-Atlantic_Partnership_Council
The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council consists of 46 member countries: the 26 NATO members and 20 partner countries:
*'''4''' non-NATO EU members:
:*{{AUT}}
:*{{FIN}}
:*{{IRE}}
:*{{SWE}}
*'''12''' CIS members:
:*{{ARM}}
:*{{AZE}}
:*{{BLR}}
:*{{GEO}}
:*{{KAZ}}
:*{{KGZ}}
:*{{MDA}}
:*{{RUS}}
:*{{TJK}}
:*{{TKM}}
:*{{UKR}}
:*{{UZB}}
*'''2''' non-NATO ex-Yugoslavia members:
:*{{CRO}}
:*{{MKD}}
*'''2''' other:
:*{{ALB}}
:*{{SUI}}
====NATO-Russia Council====
''Main article: NATO-Russia_Council''
NATO and Russia made a reciprocal commitment in 1997 "to work together to build a stable, secure and undivided continent on the basis of partnership and common interest."
In May 2002, this commitment was strengthened with the establishment of the NATO-Russia Council, which brings together the NATO members and Russia. The purpose of this council is to identify and pursue opportunities for joint action with the 27 (26+1) participants as equal partners.
==Structures==
===Political structure===
====Organisational structure====
Like any alliance, NATO is ultimately governed by its 26 member states. However, the North Atlantic Treaty, and other agreements, outline how decisions are to be made within NATO. Each of the 26 members sends a delegation or mission to NATO's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The senior permanent member of each delegation is known as the Permanent Representative and is generally a senior Civil_servant or an experienced Ambassador (and holding that diplomatic rank).
Together the Permanent Members form the North_Atlantic_Council (NAC), a body which meets together at least once a week and has effective political authority and powers of decision in NATO.
From time to time the Council also meets at higher levels involving Foreign_Ministers, Defence_Ministers or Heads of Government and it is at these meetings that major decisions regarding NATO's policies are generally taken. However, it is worth noting that the Council has the same authority and powers of decision-making, and its decisions have the same status and validity, at whatever level it meets.
The meetings of the North Atlantic Council are chaired by the Secretary General of NATO and, when decisions have to be made, action is agreed upon on the basis of unanimity and common accord. There is no voting or decision by majority. Each nation represented at the Council table or on any of its subordinate committees retains complete sovereignty and responsibility for its own decisions.
* The second pivotal member of each country's delegation is the Military Representative, a senior officer from each country's armed forces. Together the Military Representatives form the Military Committee, a body responsible for recommending to NATO's political authorities those measures considered necessary for the common defence of the NATO area. Its principal role is to provide direction and advice on military policy and strategy. It provides guidance on military matters to the NATO Strategic Commanders, whose representatives attend its meetings, and is responsible for the overall conduct of the military affairs of the Alliance under the authority of the Council.
Like the council, from time to time the Military Committee also meets at a higher level, namely at the level of Chiefs of Defence, the most senior military officer in each nations armed forces.
*In addition to this strictly internal structure, there is a number of institutionalised cooperations and consultations in a spirit of partnership.
** Since 1994, the Mediterranean_Dialogue is a forum with pro-western Arab countries (Egypt, Algeria, Jordan, Morocco, Mauritania and Tunisia) and Israel.
** Partnership_for_Peace
The NATO_Parliamentary_Assembly is made up of legislators from the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance as well as 13 associate membershttp://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=1.
====Secretaries General====
# Lord Ismay (United_Kingdom): April_4, 1952, to May_16, 1957
# Paul-Henri_Spaak (Belgium): May_16, 1957, to April_21, 1961
# Dirk_Stikker (Netherlands): April_21, 1961, to August_1, 1964
# Manlio_Brosio (Italy): August_1, 1964, to October_1, 1971
# Joseph_Luns (Netherlands): October_1, 1971, to June_25, 1984
# Lord Carrington (United_Kingdom): June_25, 1984, to July_1, 1988
# Manfred_Wörner (Germany): July_1, 1988, to August_13, 1994
# ''Sergio_Balanzino (Italy, acting): August_13, 1994, to October_17, 1994''
# Willy_Claes (Belgium): October_17, 1994, to October_20, 1995
# ''Sergio_Balanzino (Italy, acting): October_20, 1995, to December_5, 1995''
# Javier_Solana (Spain): December_5, 1995, to October_6, 1999
# Lord Robertson of Port Ellen (United_Kingdom): October_14, 1999, to January_1, 2004
# Jaap_de_Hoop_Scheffer (Netherlands): January_1, 2004, to present
===Military structure===
NATO's military operations are directed by two Strategic Commanders, both senior American Officers assisted by a staff drawn from across NATO. The Strategic Commanders are responsible to the Military Committee for the overall direction and conduct of all Alliance military matters within their areas of command.
Before 2003 the Strategic Commanders were the Supreme_Allied_Commander_Europe (SACEUR) and the Supreme_Allied_Commander_Atlantic (SACLANT) but the current arrangement is to separate command responsibility between Allied_Command_Transformation (ACT), responsible for transformation and training of NATO forces, and Allied_Command_Operations, responsible for NATO operations world wide.
The commander of Allied Command Operations retained the title "Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)", and is based in the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons. This is about 80 km (50 miles) south of NATO's political headquarters in Brussels. Allied Command Transformation (ACT) is based in the former Allied Command Atlantic headquarters in Norfolk,_Virginia, USA.
NATO operates a fleet of E-3_Sentry AWACS airborne radar aircraft based out of Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany.
== Debate about its future ==
The future of NATO is currently under debate. The main issues are:
*'''The necessity.''' The crumbling of the main "enemy of the west" in Eastern_Europe removed for many observers the necessity of a collective defence organisation. The debate about the necessity of NATO has increased due to dissension between members about the American led invasion of Iraq, makes some wonder (largely in North America) whether NATO has not become obsolete. The presumed threat of terrorism could give the institution a new life, but some think also that fighting terrorists needs a completely different political and military organisation, as well as completely different weapon systems to those on which NATO was built.
*'''The benefits for the US.''' In the US, some voices emphasis the discrepancy in military spending between the USA and European members. While the USA has the highest military spending in the world, European nations have decreased their budgets significantly after the end of the Cold War. The gap in military capabilities is thus increasing, which raises questions about what the USA gains from membership. The lack of European capabilities was highlighted during the Kosovo crisis. Former NATO-secretary Lord_Robertson criticized the European members in 1999, pointing out European nations must commit substantially more funds to defence just to meet their existing commitments to NATO. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/546307.stm However, this commitment has not been fulfilled in the following years, and it is expected that this will remain to be the case for the forseeable future. That the US wants to continue to benefit from military ties with Europe (though not necessarily through NATO) can be seen by the fact that the US has had talks with Poland and other European countries over the possibility of setting up a European base to intercept long-range missiles, as part of the American NMD program. This program is designed to shoot down long-range missiles fired at North America. A European base would also protect some European nations (as well as the US). http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4445284.stm
*'''An obstacle to European integration.''' Many argue that NATO is in conflict with the prospects of deeper European integration in the fields of foreign policy and security within the framework of the EU institutions. Some advocates for a strong EU Common_Foreign_and_Security_Policy (CFSP) would like to see NATO dismantled and a common defence and foreign policy created within the existing EU institutions. In November_2004, after the re-election of United States President George_W._Bush, the Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell_Magne_Bondevik publicly discussed whether Norway would benefit from strengthening her defence relations with the EU. Many Norwegian political analysts consider NATO to be a "politically dead organisation". So do several pundits and political leaders in other member nations. These attitudes will of necessity be reflected in future discussions of NATO expansion.
==See also==
===Notes===
{{fnb|1}} NATO uses British English spelling as its standard. This convention is discussed in its online frequently asked questions: ''"Q: Why do you spell 'organisation' with an 's' and not a 'z'? A: By tradition, NATO uses European English spellings in all public information documents..."''. NATO has two official languages, English and French, defined in Article 14 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
===See also===
* Atlantic_Council
* Euro-Atlantic_Partnership_Council
* Headquarters_Allied_Command_Europe_Rapid_Reaction_Corps
* NATO_Medal
* NATO_Consultation,_Command_and_Control_Agency
* Non-Aligned_Movement
* OSCE
* Partnership_for_Peace
* Peacekeeping
* Silence_procedure
* UN
* Warsaw_pact
* WEU
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Armies_Officers
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Armies_Enlisted
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Air_Forces_Officers
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Air_Forces_Enlisted
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Navies_Officers
* Ranks_and_insignia_of_NATO_Navies_Enlisted
* List_of_NATO_country_codes
===External links===
{{commons|North Atlantic Treaty Organisation}}
* Basic NATO Documents
* 'NATO force 'feeds Kosovo sex trade' - The Guardian
* NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) Official Website
* NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) Official Website
* NATO Official Website
* NATO Response Force Article
* NATO searches for defining role
* Official Article on NATO Response Force
* World Map of NATO Member Countries
* Stop NATO! UK
* Balkan Anti NATO Center, Greece
* NATO Defense College
Category:International_organizations
*
Category:Anti-communism
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