Publications

NATO Encyclopedia (Archived)

This is a compilation of archived online topic pages which explain every aspect of the Organization: its origin and fundamental security tasks, policies and decision-making processes, peace-support and crisis-management operations and how the Alliance tackles threats and develops capabilities. They also cover NATO’s partnerships and cooperative activities, its civilian and military structures, and specialised organisations and agencies, as well as NATO’s wider activities.

North Atlantic Treaty

This PDF file contains the original North Atlantic Treaty, more popularly known as the Washington Treaty, signed by the 12 founding members of the Alliance.

NATO 2020: Assured security; dynamic engagement

The report of the Group of Experts on NATO's new Strategic Concept comprises a summary of findings and a more detailed discussion of and recommendations on key issues, such as the security environment, core tasks, partnerships and Alliance capabilities. The report was aimed at assisting the Secretary General in drafting a new Strategic Concept for NATO, to be agreed by Allies at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010.

Towards the new strategic concept - A selection of background documents

A compilation of key NATO strategy documents to understand the evolution and future development of NATO's strategic orientation. The collection includes the North Atlantic Treaty (1949), NATO's previous Strategic Concepts (1991 and 1999), the 2006 Comprehensive Political Guidance document and the 2009 Declaration on Alliance Security.

NATO Architecture Framework, Version 4

The aim of the NATO Architecture Framework Version 4 (NAFv4) is to provide a standard for developing and describing architectures for both military and business use. It provides a standardized way to develop architecture artefacts, by defining Methodology (how to develop architectures and run an architecture project), Viewpoints (conventions for the construction, interpretation and use of architecture views for communicating the enterprise architecture to different stakeholders), Meta-Model (the application of commercial meta-models identified as compliant with NATO policy), and a Glossary, References and Bibliography.

Military matters: The beginnings of NATO's military structure: birth of the Alliance to the fall of the Berlin Wall

More than five decades since its founding, it is hard to imagine that NATO did not always have the complex military and political structures that have long been key features of its decision-making process. This issue examines the evolution of the work and structures of the top military decision makers of the Alliance through to 1989.

Secretary General's Annual Report 2021

On 31 March 2022, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released his Annual Report for 2021. It covers NATO's work and achievements throughout the year, including the Brussels Summit and the NATO 2030 decisions to make the Alliance stronger for the future, NATO cooperation with Ukraine, as well as the findings of NATO's annual Alliance-wide polling.

Secretary General's Annual Report 2020

On 16 March 2021, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released his Annual Report for 2020. It covers NATO’s work and achievements throughout the year, including efforts to ensure the health crisis did not become a security crisis, and preparations under the NATO 2030 initiative to future-proof the Alliance. The Report includes the results of new polls on the public perception of the Alliance. These demonstrate that, in a year of upheaval, overall support for the NATO Alliance, the transatlantic bond and collective defence remains strong.

Secretary General's Annual Report 2019

On 19 March 2020, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released his Annual Report for 2019. Throughout 2019, NATO celebrated its 70th anniversary, it continued to adapt to a fast-changing and challenging world, and delivered results to keep its people safe. For the first time, the Report includes polls on the public perception of the Alliance. These demonstrate that overall support for the NATO Alliance is strong.

Secretary General's Annual Report 2018

On 14 March 2019, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg released his Annual Report for 2018. The Report outlines how NATO is responding to today's security threats, adapting to new challenges, and investing in the future. It covers NATO's activities and achievements to strengthen its deterrence and defence posture, to boost its efforts to fight international terrorism, to increase its capacity building support to partners and to accelerate its modernisation and innovation agenda. The Annual Report includes the details of estimated 2018 national defence expenditures for all 29 NATO Allies.

Secretary General's Annual Report 2017

On 15 March 2018, Jens Stoltenberg released his fourth annual report as NATO Secretary General. The Report provides an overview of how NATO has become more agile and innovative in the face of a complex and evolving security environment. It includes details on how the Alliance is strengthening its deterrence and defence, and doing more to fight terrorism and project stability in its neighbourhood. It also illustrates progress that NATO has made on tackling new threats such as cyber-attacks and hybrid warfare, as well as on burden-sharing. The Annual Report includes the details of estimated 2017 national defence expenditures for all 29 NATO Allies.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2016

On 13 March 2017, Jens Stoltenberg released his third annual report as NATO Secretary General. The annual report provides an overview of how NATO protected its citizens and projected stability in 2016. It includes details on how NATO is enhancing deterrence and defence, engaging in dialogue, investing in security, improving capabilities, supporting the fight against terrorism, building relationships, sharing expertise, advancing the role of women in peace and security, and adapting as an institution.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2015

On 28 January 2016, Jens Stoltenberg released his second annual report as NATO Secretary General. The annual report provides an overview of how NATO promoted and supported peace and security in 2015. It includes details on how NATO is enhancing deterrence and defence, investing in security, transforming capabilities, building relationships, sharing expertise, advancing the role of women in peace and security, and adapting as an institution.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2014

On 30 January 2015, Jens Stoltenberg launched his first ‘Annual Report’ as NATO Secretary General. The report gives an overview of the Alliance’s achievements and initiatives in 2014 as well as the challenges it faced. This assessment of Alliance activities focuses on three areas: providing assurance to Allies and building security through operations, working to ensure that the Alliance is prepared with the right capabilities to address whatever challenges may come, and enhancing cooperation with partners around the world.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2013

On 27 January 2014, Anders Fogh Rasmussen launched his ‘Annual Report’, which gives an overview of the Alliance’s achievements and initiatives in 2013, as well as the challenges it faced. This assessment of Alliance activities focuses on four areas: how NATO is building security through operations, broadening its relationship with partners, developing smart solutions to security challenges and adapting to austerity, and reforming to ensure that it is efficient and effective.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2012

On 31 January 2013, Anders Fogh Rasmussen launched his ‘Annual Report’, which gives an overview of the Alliance’s achievements and initiatives in 2012, as well as the challenges it faced. This assessment of Alliance activities focuses on three areas: current crisis management operations in which the Alliance is engaged; military capabilities, which are examined against the background of the financial crisis; and NATO’s partnerships and developing cooperation with a broader range of partners.

Secretary General’s Annual Report 2011

On 26 January, Anders Fogh Rasmussen launched the first ever ‘Annual Report’, which gives a brief overview of NATO’s principal achievements and challenges in 2011. This assessment of Alliance activities focuses on four areas: NATO operations, emerging security challenges, the modernization of NATO – its structures and capabilities - as well as NATO’s growing partnerships.