NATO

Definition

NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a military alliance established in 1949, founded on the principle of collective defense enshrined in Article 5: an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all. Currently comprising 32 member states across North America and Europe, NATO is the world's most powerful military alliance. It operates through an integrated command structure, conducts joint exercises, and maintains interoperability standards. NATO expansion, particularly toward post-Soviet states, remains a major source of geopolitical tension with Russia. The alliance has adapted its strategic concept to address terrorism, cyber threats, hybrid warfare, and great-power competition.