NATO is a military alliance established in 1949, with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. NATO stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The organization was established in 1949 to protect freedom and each member country through a military alliance.
The main reasons NATO was created were to strengthen military power in Europe after World War II and to prevent the expansion of communism into the area. The treaty stipulates that if one member of the organization is attacked, the other countries will assist in defending the targeted country. There were twelve founding members who signed the North Atlantic Treaty: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. As of 2025, there are 32 members of NATO across North America and Europe. Newest countries that are members of NATO include Sweden and Finland.
The NATO organization is funded by each country having committed to spend 5% of their GDP to enhance defense spending capabilities within the organization, with the exception of Spain. NATO holds summits annually to discuss ongoing security concerns and international changes that could affect its operations. NATO Summits are occasions when leaders from each country come together to discuss strategy and necessary changes to uphold the organization's promise to protect freedom and each other.
