What is NATO? This question has been on the minds of many Americans who are studying for a college degree these days. Many are surprised to learn that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization actually began as an international military force after World War II.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, or the NATO, is an international intergovernmental organization made up of 30 European and North American states. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is administered by the United States, and is bound by the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed in 4 Apr 1949. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an alliance designed to counter the military threat posed by the Soviet Union.
When the members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization agreed to pool their military resources and spend collectively to deter the Warsaw Pact invasion of Europe, they were also agreeing to share defense costs. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed with the goal of containing the Warsaw Pact. It was created to prevent a Soviet attack on the Western world, and its stated purpose was to keep the peace in Europe. NATO’s mission was to provide security within its boundaries and prevent the spread of nuclear war into the Western world.
Today, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization consists of all the countries that were original members of the alliance. The newest members are Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the new member states that joined later are Austria, Canada, Iceland, Norway, and a few others. In addition, there are twenty-two nations that are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. They are Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbs and Slovenia. The remaining nations are all in the European Union.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created when the United Nations Security Council was expanded to twenty-eight member states. Two of the members were from Europe, while the remaining six were from the United States. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in Europe, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization quickly replaced the Warsaw pact, which was an alliance made up of twenty-four countries. After the Cold War ended, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization included twenty-one countries: United States, Britain, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia, Japan, Poland, satellite states, and other entities that participate in the organization on an annual basis.
When the Cold War ended, two main areas of the world were left with a de facto military alliance: the United States and Europe. The Europeans had a lasting peace because the Warsaw pact prevented any attacks on their country while the United States used its military might to protect Europe. However, with the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the creation of the European Union, there was a need for a common defense against a common threat, which is why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was created. Since the inception of the North Atlantic Treaty Commission, which oversees the organization, the United States and its allies have been involved in over one hundred percent of the peace keeping efforts, although there have been times when Europe has participated in conflicts, most notably in the Gulf War.
The main article of the North Atlantic Treaty Commission states that the primary purpose of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is to deter military aggression against the members. This is not a violation of the United States Constitution since military operations only occur when an attack occurs or if there is a danger that an attack will occur. In addition, the commission does not make threats against other countries, but only encourages international cooperation and diplomacy to stop military actions which may be threatening. The commission also oversees the funding of the NPT, which is why many people believe that the money that goes towards the NPT must come from the United States, since the United States is legally obliged to spend money on the NPT.
The political system of the United States guarantees the impartial application of the NPT; however, the political culture of the US and its European allies differs so much from the Soviet Union’s that some people still question whether the NPT is still relevant today. This can be attributed to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the withdrawal of the communist world from the world scene, which left the US with a big vacuum where it needed to fill. Although other countries, particularly the Soviet Union, wanted to continue using force to quell conflicts, it became clear that the US was no longer willing to do so, which prompted the withdrawal of the troops from Vietnam. Since then, the US has relied on its allies to help in its fight against international terrorism, which has become one of its main tools against the international terrorists.
One of the largest problems that the US has faced in the last two decades is the spread of international terrorism. Many think that the September 11th Terrorist attacks in America were done by al Qaeda, but al Qaeda itself has denied involvement. Nonetheless, since al Qaeda and other terrorist groups are headquartered in Africa, many Europeans have expressed concern that the US was neglecting its responsibility for keeping the peace in Africa following the attacks. The March 2021 coup in Portugal against the government there is another example of the US turning its back on Europe. In fact, the Europeans have also accused the US of stifling political debate in Africa. The main article referenced below discusses these issues in greater detail.