What is NATO?

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1 Member countries

NATO members

The most important players in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization are the member countries themselves.

There are currently 32 members

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Albania (2009)
Belgium (1949)
Bulgaria (2004)
Canada (1949)
Croatia (2009)
Czechia (1999)
Denmark (1949)
Estonia (2004)
Finland (2023)
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)
Sweden (2024)
Türkiye (1952)
United Kingdom (1949)
United States (1949)

NATO enlargement

NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.”

2 Basic points

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2.1 A political and military Alliance

Security in our daily lives is key to our well-being. NATO’s purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.

POLITICAL – NATO promotes democratic values and enables members to consult and cooperate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.

MILITARY – NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO's founding treaty – Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.

2.2 Collective defence

NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. This is the principle of collective defence, which is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.

So far, Article 5 has been invoked once – in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.

2.3 The Transatlantic link

NATO is an alliance of countries from Europe and North America. It provides a unique link between these two continents, enabling them to consult and cooperate in the field of defence and security, and conduct multinational crisis-management operations together.

2.4 The 2022 strategic concept

Strategic Concepts lay down the Alliance’s core tasks and principles, its values, the evolving security environment and the Alliance’s strategic objectives for the next decade. The 2022 Strategic Concept reaffirms that NATO's key purpose is to ensure the collective defence of its members, based on a 360-degree approach, and outlines three core tasks – deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, and cooperative security.

3 Activities

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3.1 Decisions and consultations

Every day, member countries consult and take decisions on security issues at all levels and in a variety of fields.

A “NATO decision” is the expression of the collective will of all 32 member countries since all decisions are taken by consensus.

Hundreds of officials, as well as civilian and military experts, come to NATO Headquarters each day to exchange information, share ideas and help prepare decisions when needed, in cooperation with national delegations and the staff at NATO Headquarters.

3.2 Operations and missions

Kosovo
Securing the Mediterranean
Supporting the African Union

NATO takes an active role in a broad range of crisis-management operations and missions, including civil emergency operations.

NATO’s crisis-management operations are carried out under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate.

3.3 Partnerships

NATO works with many non-member countries on a wide range of political and security-related issues. These countries pursue dialogue and practical cooperation with the Alliance and many contribute to NATO-led operations and missions. NATO is also cooperating with a wide network of international organisations.

Partner countries do not have the same decision-making authority as member countries.

Learn more
about NATO's partnerships

3.4 Developing the means to respond to threats

NATO has always innovated and adapted itself to ensure its policies, capabilities and structures meet current and future threats, including the collective defence of its members.

1949

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Signing of the Washington Treaty, 4 April

1989

Fall of the Berlin Wall

1991

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NATO develops partnerships with former adversaries after the break-up of
the Soviet Union

1995

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NATO engages in its first major crisis-management operation in
Bosnia and Herzegovina

2001

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Large-scale terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C.

NATO invokes Article 5 for the first time ever and adopts a broader approach to security

2003

NATO takes command of the International Security Assistance Force – ISAF – in Afghanistan

2022

NATO adopts the 2022 Strategic Concept

Go to NATO's History module

5 Working structures

NATO delegations

Each member country has a permanent delegation at NATO’s political headquarters in Brussels. Each delegation is headed by an “ambassador”, who represents his/her government in the Alliance’s consultation and decision-making process.

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The Nuclear Planning Group

The Nuclear Planning Group has the same authority as the North Atlantic Council with regard to nuclear policy issues.

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The NAC: at the heart of NATO

The North Atlantic Council (NAC) is the principal political decision-making body at NATO. Each member country has a seat at the NAC.
It meets at least once a week or whenever the need arises, at different levels. It is chaired by the Secretary General, who helps members reach agreement on key issues.

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Subordinate committees

NATO has a network of committees to deal with all subjects on its agenda, from political to more technical issues. They bring national representatives and experts from all NATO member countries together on a regular basis.

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NATO agencies

NATO agencies and organisations play a vital role in procuring and sustaining capabilities collectively. They specialise in technical fields that complement and form an integral part of NATO’s agenda: procurement, support and communications and information.

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The Secretary General

The Secretary General is the Alliance’s top international civil servant. He/she is responsible for steering the process of consultation and decision-making within the Alliance and ensuring that decisions are implemented. The Secretary General is also NATO's chief spokesperson and heads the Organization's International Staff, who provide advice, guidance and administrative support to the national delegations at NATO Headquarters.

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Military organisation and structure

When the implementation of political decisions has military implications, the key actors involved are: the Military Committee, composed of the Chiefs of Defence of NATO member countries; the International Military Staff, the Military Committee’s executive body; and the military command structure, composed of Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation.

NATO has very few permanent forces of its own. When the North Atlantic Council agrees to launch an operation, members contribute military forces on a voluntary basis. These forces then return to their countries once the mission is completed.

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NATO enlargement

2.1 A political and military Alliance

2.2 Collective defence

2.3 The Transatlantic link

2.4 The 2022 strategic concept

3.1 Decisions and consultations

3.2 Operations and missions

3.3 Partnerships

3.4 Developing the means to respond to threats

1949

1989

1991

1995

2001

2003

2022

Member countries

NATO delegations

The Nuclear Planning Group

The NAC: at the heart of NATO

Subordinate committees

NATO agencies

The Secretary General

Military organisation and structure