Overview
- NATO is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty).
- Its core purpose: collective defense – “an attack against one is an attack against all” (Article 5).
- Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium.
Membership
- Current members: 32 countries (as of 2024).
- Founding members (1949): 12 nations including USA, UK, France, Canada.
- Latest members:
- Finland (2023).
- Sweden (2024).
Core Functions
- Collective Defense
- Article 5 invoked only once (after 9/11 attacks on the USA, 2001).
- Crisis Management
- Conducts military & humanitarian missions (e.g., Afghanistan, Kosovo, Libya).
- Cooperative Security
- Partnerships with non-member states.
- NATO-led dialogues: Partnership for Peace, Mediterranean Dialogue, Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.
- Deterrence
- Maintains a nuclear deterrence posture.
- Strong presence in Eastern Europe due to Russia–Ukraine conflict.
Structure
- North Atlantic Council (NAC): Main decision-making body.
- Secretary-General: Chief administrative officer (currently Jens Stoltenberg, succeeded by Mark Rutte from Oct 2024).
- Military Committee: Guides NATO’s military strategy.
- Decisions taken by consensus (unanimity, not majority).
Geopolitical Significance
- Cold War Origin: Formed as a counterbalance to Soviet Union’s power.
- Post–Cold War: Expanded eastward to include former Warsaw Pact states.
- Current role:
- Key player in Russia–Ukraine war (military aid & sanctions coordination).
- Involvement in cybersecurity, terrorism, climate security.
- Seen as a US-led security umbrella for Europe.
India’s Relevance
- India is not a NATO member.
- Relations are cautious due to:
- India’s strategic autonomy policy.
- Close NATO–Pakistan ties (especially during Afghan War).
- India engages in dialogues with NATO occasionally (focus: counter-terrorism, maritime security).
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