Deterrence and defence | NATO Topic NATO is a defensive alliance Its members are committed to safeguarding the freedom and security of all Allies, against all threats, from all directions They do this by maintaining a credible deterrence and defence posture based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional and missile defence capabilities, complemented by space and cyber capabilities In response to the current security
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
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 Headquarters | NATO Topic NATO Headquarters is the political and administrative centre of the Alliance It is located at Boulevard Leopold III in Brussels, Belgium It offers a venue for representatives and experts from all member countries to consult on a continuous basis, a key part of the Alliance’s consensual decision-making process, and to work with partner countries
NATO’s nuclear deterrence policy and forces The fundamental purpose of NATO’s nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance NATO’s goal is a safer world for all; the Alliance seeks to create the security environment for a world without nuclear weapons
NATO member countries NATO was created by 12 countries from Europe and North America on 4 April 1949 Since then, 20 more countries have joined NATO through 10 rounds of enlargement (in 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020, 2023 and 2024) Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty sets out how countries can join the Alliance
Countering terrorism | NATO Topic NATO’s counter-terrorism work spans across the Alliance’s three core tasks: deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security A comprehensive action plan defines and determines NATO’s role in the international community’s fight against terrorism
NATO - Opinion: Joint press conference by the Chair of the NATO . . . Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer: Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen, During this meeting of the NATO Military Committee, the Allied Chiefs of Defence discussed NATO’s readiness to deter and defend the Euro-Atlantic area and to safeguard the region’s one billion inhabitants We addressed NATO’s ongoing missions and operations; the NATO Defence Planning Process