WHAT IS NATO? Visit our website : www.nato.int #WEARENATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is one of the These countries meet to cooperate in the field of world’s major international institutions. It is a political security and defence. In this respect, NATO provides and military alliance that brings together 30 member a unique link between these two continents for political countries from Europe and North America. and security cooperation. PROTECTING PEOPLE COMBATING NEW THREATS We often take it for granted that we can walk around freely in As the nature of threats changes, so must the methods a safe and economically stable environment. Security in all of preserving peace. NATO is reorienting its defence areas of everyday life is key to our well-being. capabilities towards today’s threats. It is adapting forces and developing multinational approaches to deal with terrorism, FORGING PARTNERSHIPS failed states and other security threats such as weapons of mass destruction. Establishing dialogue and cooperation is crucial for peaceful relations and deeper international understanding. BUILDING PEACE & STABILITY NATO provides a unique opportunity for member and partner countries to consult on security issues to build trust The benefits of stability can be enjoyed simultaneously by and, in the long run, help to prevent conflict. many parties. Through practical cooperation and multilateral initiatives, It is crucial to stabilise regions where tensions pose security countries are facing new security challenges together. threats. This is why NATO takes an active role in crisis- management operations, in cooperation with other international organisations. WHAT DOES NATO DO? NATO is committed to protecting its members efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to through political and military means. It also undertake crisis-management and peacekeeping encourages consultation and cooperation operations alone or in cooperation with other with non-NATO countries in a wide range of countries and international organisations. security-related areas such as defence reform NATO also has a third dimension which and peacekeeping. consists of activities in the area of civil Through its discussions and partnerships, emergency planning, helping Allies and NATO contributes to preventing conflicts partners to cope with disasters, as well as to within and beyond the frontiers of its member promote cooperation in the field of science countries. and the environment. It promotes democratic values and is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic HOW DOES NATO WORK? Each member country has a permanent NATO has very few permanent forces of its delegation at NATO’s political headquarters in own. When an operation is agreed by the North Brussels, Belgium. It is headed by an ambassador, Atlantic Council, members contribute forces on who represents his/her government in the Alliance’s a voluntary basis. These forces return to their consultation and decision-making process. countries once the mission is completed. The North Atlantic Council is the most important It is the role of the military command structure to political decision-making body within the coordinate and conduct these operations. This Organization. It meets at different levels and is structure consists of headquarters and bases chaired by the Secretary General of NATO, who located in different member countries. helps members reach agreement on key issues. NATO’s day-to-day activities, civil and military All decisions within each of NATO’s committees structures and security investment programmes are reached by consensus. A “NATO decision” are funded through common budgets to which is therefore the expression of the collective will member governments contribute in accordance of all member countries. with an agreed cost-sharing formula. MEMBER AND PARTNER COUNTRIES signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949 MEMBER COUNTRIES (+DATES OF ACCESSION) PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE (PFP) COUNTRIES ISTANBUL COOPERATION INITIATIVE COUNTRIES (ICI) Albania - 2009 Lithuania - 2004 Armenia Malta Belgium - 1949 Luxembourg - 1949 Austria Republic of Moldova Bahrain Bulgaria - 2004 Montenegro - 2017 Azerbaijan Russia Kuwait Canada - 1949 Netherlands - 1949 Belarus Serbia Qatar Croatia - 2009 North Macedonia - 2020 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sweden United Arab Emirates Czech Republic - 1999 Norway - 1949 Finland Switzerland Denmark - 1949 Poland - 1999 Georgia Tajikistan Estonia - 2004 Portugal - 1949 Ireland Turkmenistan PARTNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE France - 1949 Romania - 2004 Kazakhstan Ukraine Afghanistan Germany - 1955 Slovakia - 2004 Kyrgyzstan Uzbekistan Australia Greece - 1952 Slovenia - 2004 Colombia Hungary - 1999 Spain - 1982 Iraq Iceland - 1949 Turkey - 1952 Japan MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE COUNTRIES (MD) Italy - 1949 United Kingdom - 1949 Republic of Korea Algeria Mauritania Latvia - 2004 United States - 1949 Mongolia Egypt Morocco New Zealand Israel Tunisia Pakistan Jordan 0351-20 © NATO 2020 - ENG 0351-20 © NATO.