THE HISTORY OF NATO

​The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a significant military alliance formed in 1949. This alliance united 31 nations, including two North American and 29 European countries, intending to promote regional security and stability.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a significant military alliance formed in 1949. This alliance united 31 nations, including two North American and 29 European countries, intending to promote regional security and stability.

The idea for building this framework of defence and security came after the Second World War, which demonstrated the urgency and importance of collective security arrangements to prevent future conflicts of this scale. The birth of NATO culminated in the execution of the North Atlantic Deal, endorsed in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949, which aimed to offer a platform for collective security whereby independent member states agreed to protect one another from external attacks.
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In this regard, NATO has been a critical system for collective security, acting as a check on the Soviet Union’s threat during the Cold War, and its alliance stayed resilient even after the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. Over the years, the coalition has participated in military activities in many regions worldwide, including the Balkans, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, attesting to its role as a global peacemaker.

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NATO IS FOUNDED

1949

​The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is founded as a way to deter expansion by the Soviet Union and a revival of European militarism. The 12 founding members are Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, United Kingdom, United States.

1ST NATO EXPANSION

1952

​Greece and Turkey in the NATO alliance’s first round of expansion.

2ND NATO EXPANSION

1955

​West Germany becomes the 3rd nation to join the NATO Alliance. In response to this, the Soviet Union and seven Eastern Bloc nations go on to form the eight-nation Warsaw Pact.

3RD NATO EXPANSION

1982

​Spain becomes the 16th member of NATO in the alliance's 3rd Expansion.

FALL OF THE SOVIET UNION

HISTORICAL EVENT 1991

​The Soviet Union collapsed, and the Warsaw Pact was dissolved.

PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE

1991

​NATO Partnership for Peace program was created

FINLAND & SWEDEN JOIN PFP

1994

​Finland and Sweden joined Partnership for Peace program. In 1995 they joined the European Union, which brought to an end their neutral status, but they did remain military nonaligned.

4TH NATO EXPANSION

1999

​In the 4th round of NATO expansion, The first former Warsaw-Pact nations of the Czech Republic (Czechia), Hungary, and Poland become full NATO members.

ARTICLE 5 TRIGGERED FOR THE FIRST TIME

2001

​Article 5 of the NATO treaty states that an attack on any NATO member is an attack on all and is triggered for the first time in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

RUSSIA-NATO COUNCIL IS FORMED

2002

​The NATO-Russia Council is formed to assist NATO members and Russia to work together on security issues.

NATO IN AFGHANISTAN

2003

​NATO takes command of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF).

5TH NATO EXPANSION

2004

​The 5th round of NATO expansion saw the former Eastern Bloc nations of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia all join the alliance.

UKRAINE & GEORGIA WISH TO JOIN NATO

2008

​NATO countries welcome Ukraine's and Georgia’s aspirations to join the alliance, angering Russia. In August, Russia won its short war with neighbour Georgia over the Russian-speaking breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which Moscow recognised as independent states.

6TH NATO EXPANSION

2009

​The 6th Round of NATO expansion saw former Eastern Bloc Nations Albania and Croatia become full members of the alliance.

NATO ENFORCES NO-FLY ZONE OVER LIBYA.

2011

​NATO agrees to enforce a no-fly zone over Libya. Sweden takes part in the operation by deploying fighter jets on reconnaissance missions.

EUROMAIDAN PROTEST

NOV 2013

​The Euromaidan or the Maidan Uprising protests were sparked by then President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision not to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement, instead choosing closer ties to Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union.

MAIDAN REVOLUTION

FEB 2014

​The Revolution of Dignity, also known as the Maidan Revolution or the Ukrainian Revolution, started.

NATO SUSPENDS COOPERATION WITH RUSSIA

APRIL 2014

​NATO suspended most of its cooperation with Russia after it annexed Crimea.

NATO ENDS ISAF MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN

2015

​NATO ends the ISAF operations in Afghanistan. However, the alliance remained in Afghanistan to train local security forces until the Taliban took over in 2021.

7TH NATO EXPANSION

2017

​In the 7th round of NATO expansion saw Montenegro become its latest member. The former region of the Eastern Bloc Balkans nation of Yugoslavia

8TH NATO EXPANSION

2020

​The 8th round of NATO Expansion returned to the Balkans with the addition of North Macedonia into the alliance.

FUTURE MEMBERS

2022

​Sweden and Finland are exploring the possibility of Full NATO membership following Russia’s Military activity in Ukraine.

9TH NATO EXPANSION

2023

​The 9th round of NATO expansion saw the Scandinavian country of Finland become the latest full member of the Alliance.