NATO

What is NATO?

NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of 32 member states, established in 1949 to provide collective security against attacks by third parties. It operates as a check on the threat posed by the Soviet Union and has been involved in various military operations around the world.

Why Does NATO Matter?

NATO’s main headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium, with a combined military force of over 3.5 million soldiers and personnel, covering an area of 25.07 million km² with a population of approximately 973 million people. The organization has expanded to include new members ten times since its founding, including Sweden in 2024, and recognizes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine as aspiring members.

The Evolution of NATO

Since its inception, NATO’s purpose, nature, tasks, and focus have evolved significantly. In the early days, it was a response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War. The building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 marked a height in Cold War tensions, when 400,000 US troops were stationed in Europe.

Doubts over the strength of the relationship between European states and the United States ebbed and flowed along with doubts over the credibility of NATO’s defense against a prospective Soviet invasion. In 1982, Spain joined the alliance, and the Revolutions of 1989 led to a strategic re-evaluation of NATO’s purpose, nature, tasks, and focus on the continent.

NATO in Action

In October 1990, East Germany became part of the Federal Republic of Germany and the alliance. The first operations, Anchor Guard in 1990 and Ace Guard in 1991, were prompted by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Airborne early warning aircraft were sent to provide coverage of southeastern Turkey, and later a quick-reaction force was deployed to the area.

The Bosnian War began in 1992, as a result of the breakup of Yugoslavia. NATO complied with UN Security Council Resolution 816 on October 9, 1992, authorizing enforcement of a no-fly zone over central Bosnia and Herzegovina. The first wartime action by NATO was shooting down four Bosnian Serb aircraft violating the no-fly zone.

Key Operations

In June 1993 until October 1996, Operation Sharp Guard added maritime enforcement of the arms embargo and economic sanctions against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In August 1995, a two-week NATO bombing campaign, Operation Deliberate Force, began against the Army of the Republika Srpska, after the Srebrenica genocide.

In 1998, negotiations under US Special Envoy Richard Holbrooke broke down, and NATO started a 78-day bombing campaign on March 24, 1999, targeting the military capabilities of what was then the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The crisis led to the adoption of the Alliance Strategic Concept during its Washington summit in April 1999 that emphasized conflict prevention and crisis management.

Modern Challenges

The 2014 Russian annexation of Crimea led to strong condemnation by all NATO members, and was one of the seven times that Article 4 has been invoked. The leaders of NATO’s member states formally committed for the first time to spend at least two percent of their gross domestic products on defense by 2024 at the 2014 Wales summit.

At the 2016 Warsaw summit, NATO countries agreed on the creation of NATO Enhanced Forward Presence, deploying four multinational battalion-sized battlegroups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. Before and during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, several NATO countries sent ground troops, warships, and fighter aircraft to reinforce the alliance’s eastern flank, and multiple countries again invoked Article 4.

Partnerships and Global Reach

NATO has partnerships with third countries through programs like the Partnership for Peace and Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. NATO cooperates with non-NATO members through initiatives such as the Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. In June 2018, Qatar expressed interest in joining NATO but was ruled out due to Article 10 of its founding treaty.

Colombia is NATO’s latest partner, having access to full cooperation activities, marking the first time a Latin American country cooperates with NATO. Allied Command Operations (ACO) is the NATO command responsible for NATO operations worldwide. The Rapid Deployable Corps and High Readiness Forces report to ACO.

Conclusion

NATO’s journey from its inception in 1949 to today has been marked by significant changes, challenges, and expansions. As the world continues to evolve, NATO remains a vital force for security and stability, adapting to new threats while maintaining its core mission of collective defense.