Context

• 75 years have passed since the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Key Points

• To commemorate this occasion, an event was organised in Brussels. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts were present in this event.
• It is noteworthy that originally there were 12 founding members but currently this number has almost tripled.
• Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stipulates that an attack on any of its members will be met with a united response.
• The treaty has been used only once, following al-Qaeda attacks on American soil in 2001.

About North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

• It was established in 1949 to ensure collective security against the Soviet Union.
• Its founding members were the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations.
• NATO's primary and military headquarters are located in Brussels, Belgium.
• Since its inception, NATO has expanded nine times and most recently, Finland became its member on April 4, 2023, 74 years after its formation.
• Sweden has been accepted as the 32nd member, and Hungary is currently aspiring to join the North Atlantic Treaty.

NATO Tasks

• NATO is an organisation that promotes democratic values and facilitates consultation and cooperation among its members to address issues related to defence and security.
• Its primary objective is to prevent conflicts and build trust between nations.
• At present it has 32 members.
• It is noteworthy that after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, it has again taken a central role in world affairs.
• Note: NATO participates in three alliances that extend its influence beyond its 32 member states.
• Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)
• Mediterranean Dialogue
• Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)