GS 2 – International Relations
Introduction
- NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) on 4 April 1949.
- Its primary purpose is collective defense, meaning an attack on one member is considered an attack on all (Article 5 of the treaty).
- Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
- Current Secretary General (2025): Jens Stoltenberg (Note: His term is expected to end soon).
Membership
- Initial Members (12): USA, UK, Canada, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Portugal, Italy.
- Current Members (32 as of 2024):
- Recent additions: Finland (2023) and Sweden (2024), largely due to security concerns after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
- Membership is open to European states that can contribute to security and uphold NATO principles (Article 10).
Key Provisions of the Treaty
- Article 5 (Collective Defense): If one member is attacked, all others will consider it an attack against them. Invoked only five times, notably after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001.
- Article 4 (Consultation): Members consult whenever territorial integrity, political independence, or security is threatened.
- Article 10 (Enlargement): Provides the basis for NATO expansion.
Objectives
- Collective Security: Protect members from external threats.
- Crisis Management: NATO intervenes in conflicts to maintain peace (e.g., Balkans, Afghanistan, Libya).
- Cooperative Security: Partnership with non-member countries and international organizations like the UN and EU.
- Deterrence and Defense: Especially relevant due to rising tensions with Russia and cyber warfare threats.
Structure
- North Atlantic Council (NAC): Principal political decision-making body; chaired by the Secretary General.
- Military Committee: Provides military advice to the NAC.
- Integrated Military Command Structure: Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) traditionally a U.S. General.
Major Operations & Interventions
- Bosnia (1990s): Peacekeeping during Yugoslav Wars.
- Afghanistan (2001-2021): NATO’s largest mission under International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).
- Libya (2011): Operation Unified Protector during the Arab Spring.
- Kosovo Force (KFOR): Ongoing peacekeeping mission.
- Ukraine (Post-2014): Support and military assistance following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and 2022 invasion.
NATO vs. Russia
- NATO expansion eastwards has been a major source of tension with Russia.
- Russia views NATO’s presence near its borders as a threat.
- The Ukraine crisis (2014 onwards) intensified NATO’s relevance and led to increased defense spending by members.
India and NATO
- India is not a NATO member, but NATO has engaged India through dialogues on counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cyber defense.
- India values strategic autonomy and has traditionally been cautious about formal military alliances.
Prelims Facts
- NATO was formed in 1949.
- Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
- Article 5 invoked after 9/11 attacks.
- Latest members: Finland (31st), Sweden (32nd).
- India is not a member, but engages through partnerships.