Years of Establishment of NATO

General Studies Paper -2

Context: NATO has completed its 75 years of establishment in 2024.

About NATO

• NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of countries. 
• Establishment:It was founded in 1949 with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, more popularly known as the Washington Treaty.
• Aim:To ensure the security and defense of its member countries through collective defense.
• Founding Members: The original members of NATO were Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Collective Defense:The cornerstone of NATO is Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an armed attack against one or more of its members is considered an attack against all members.
• Decision-Making:Decisions within NATO are made on the basis of consensus among member countries. 
  • The North Atlantic Council,which includes the ambassadors of all member countries, is the principal political decision-making body.
• Members:It has 32 member countries, Finland and Sweden became the 31st and 32nd members respectively.
  • On signing the Treaty, countries voluntarily commit themselves to participating in the political consultations and military activities of the Organization.

Expansion of NATO

• NATO now has32 members across Europe and North America, including the UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Turkey.
• After the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, many Eastern European countries joined: Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
• Sweden and Finland applied to join in 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. They had been neutral for decades.
• Finland – which has a 1,340km (832 mile) land border with Russia– joined in 2023. Sweden became a member in March 2024.
• With Sweden and Finland joining Nato, it is seeing its biggest expansion since the 1990s.They will add nearly 300,000 active and reserve troops to the alliance’s ranks.
• Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Georgia also hope to join Nato.

Concerns of NATO Expansion

• Geopolitical Tensions:Expanding NATO’s borders potentially provokes tensions with neighboring countries, especially those with close ties to Russia.
  • The immediate reason for the Russian – Ukraine war can be associated with the fact the Russia wanted to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO.
• Security Dilemma: NATO expansion can trigger a security dilemma wherein one country’s effort to enhance its security is seen as a threat by another, leading to anarms race or increased military tensions.
• Strategic Interests:Expanding NATO’s membership raises questions about the strategic interests of the alliance and its commitment to collective defense.
  • Some argue that NATO should focus on consolidating its existing members rather than taking on new ones.
• European Security Architecture:NATO expansion could undermine efforts to develop a broader European security architecture, including initiatives such as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
• Promoting such new alliances: Countries who sees NATO as a security threat can come up with a counter alliance such as the Warsaw Treaty Organization by the Russia. These alliances can further accelerate the geopolitical tensions.
• Potential for Conflict: NATO expansion raises the risk of conflict, particularly if it involves regions with existing territorial disputes or unresolved conflicts.
  • This could escalate tensions and increase the likelihood of military confrontation.

Way Ahead

• Overall, while NATO expansion can enhance the security of new member states and contribute to the stability of the Euro-Atlantic region, it also poses various challenges and concerns that need to be carefully considered by all parties involved.
• Diplomacy, dialogue, and a nuanced understanding of each other’s security concerns are essential for addressing these concerns and maintaining peace and stability in the region.