NATO is a buzzword on internet these days due to Ukraine and Russia conflict. Russia asked Ukraine for assurances that it would not join the group’s defence alliance and also asked that they do not expand any further east.
However, West (European countries) rejected Russian demands and stated that any free country can join the defence alliance. Although, some Western leaders and Joe Biden (the President of United States) did offer negotiations between NATO countries & Russia but in vain.
What is NATO?
NATO is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization a.k.a. North Atlantic Alliance. It is an intergovernmental military alliance among 28 European countries and 2 North American Countries. NATO was established aftermath of World War II on 4th April 1949 in Washington DC, United States.
However, the beginning of this organization was started in 1947, when the United Kingdom and France signed the “Treaty of Dunkirk” to create an alliance in the event that Germany of the Soviet Union attach.
The main purpose of NATO is to guarantee the freedom and security of its member through political and military means.
How Many Countries Are in NATO?
Currently, there are 31 countries are in NATO with 4 aspiring states. Initially, there were 12 countries who founded NATO in 1949. These are:
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Italy
- Iceland
- Luxembourg
- Norway
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- United Kingdom
- United States
Similarly, Greece and Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and Spain joined in 1982. Another interesting thing is that West Germany joined this alliance in 1955 while east Germany joined this alliance in 1990 after reunification.
Here is the list of 30 countries who are NATO members:
- Albania (2009)
- Belgium (1949)
- Bulgaria (2004)
- Canada (1949)
- Croatia (2009)
- Czech Republic (1999)
- Denmark (1949)
- Estonia (2004)
- France (1949)
- Germany (1955)
- Greece (1952)
- Hungary (1999)
- Iceland (1949)
- Italy (1949)
- Latvia (2004)
- Lithuania (2004)
- Luxembourg (1949)
- Montenegro (2017)
- Netherlands (1949)
- North Macedonia (2020)
- Norway (1949)
- Poland (1999)
- Portugal (1949)
- Romania (2004)
- Slovakia (2004)
- Slovenia (2004)
- Spain (1982)
- Turkey (1952)
- The United Kingdom (1949)
- The United States (1949)
- Finland (2023)
The recent additions to the alliance are Montenegro in 2017 and North Macedonia in 2020. Similarly, three more countries who are currently classified as “aspiring countries”, are Bosnia & Herzegovina, Georgia, Sweden and Ukraine.
It is worth mentioning here that the president of Ukraine Mr. Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks fast track membership of EU membership.
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