NATO (NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION)

Current Context: NATO is considering establishing a logistics base in Sweden after Sweden’s accession as the 32^nd member (2024).

ABOUT NATO

• Nature: A political and military alliance of countries from Europe and North America.
• Founded: April 1949, with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty.
• Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
• Membership: 32 members (latest: Sweden, 2024).

OBJECTIVES

• Cold War era: To provide collective security against the Soviet Union.
• Presently: Ensures members protect each other from threats, including cyber, terrorism, and hybrid warfare.

KEY PRINCIPLE

• Article 5: An armed attack against one or more members is considered an attack against all members.
• Invoked only once: after 9/11 terrorist attacks (2001).