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The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is one of the These countries meet to cooperate in the field of
world’s major international institutions. It is a political security and defence. In this respect, NATO provides
and military alliance that brings together 29 member a unique link between these two continents for political
countries from Europe and North America. and security cooperation.

PROTECTING PEOPLE COMBATING NEW THREATS

We often take it for granted that we can walk around freely in As the nature of threats changes, so must the methods
a safe and economically stable environment. Security in all of preserving peace. NATO is reorienting its defence
areas of everyday life is key to our well-being. capabilities towards today’s threats. It is adapting forces and
developing multinational approaches to deal with terrorism,
FORGING PARTNERSHIPS failed states and other security threats such as weapons of
mass destruction.
Establishing dialogue and cooperation is crucial for peaceful
relations and deeper international understanding.
NATO provides a unique opportunity for member and
BUILDING PEACE & STABILITY
partner countries to consult on security issues to build trust The benefits of stability can be enjoyed simultaneously by
and, in the long run, help to prevent conflict. many parties.
Through practical cooperation and multilateral initiatives, It is crucial to stabilise regions where tensions pose security
countries are facing new security challenges together. threats. This is why NATO takes an active role in crisis-
management operations, in cooperation with other international
organisations.
 WHAT DOES NATO DO?
NATO is committed to protecting its members efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to
through political and military means. It also undertake crisis-management and peacekeeping
encourages consultation and cooperation operations alone or in cooperation with other
with non-NATO countries in a wide range of countries and international organisations.
security-related areas such as defence reform
NATO also has a third dimension which
and peacekeeping.
consists of activities in the area of civil
Through its discussions and partnerships, emergency planning, helping Allies and
NATO contributes to preventing conflicts partners to cope with disasters, as well as to
within and beyond the frontiers of its member promote cooperation in the field of science
countries. and the environment.

It promotes democratic values and is committed

to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic

HOW DOES NATO WORK?

Each member country has a permanent NATO has very few permanent forces of its
delegation at NATO’s political headquarters in own. When an operation is agreed by the North
Brussels, Belgium. It is headed by an ambassador, Atlantic Council, members contribute forces on
who represents his/her government in the Alliance’s a voluntary basis. These forces return to their
consultation and decision-making process. countries once the mission is completed.

The North Atlantic Council is the most important It is the role of the military command structure to
political decision-making body within the coordinate and conduct these operations. This
Organization. It meets at different levels and is structure consists of headquarters and bases
chaired by the Secretary General of NATO, who located in different member countries.
helps members reach agreement on key issues.
NATO’s day-to-day activities, civil and military
All decisions within each of NATO’s committees structures and security investment programmes
are reached by consensus. A “NATO decision” are funded through common budgets to which
is therefore the expression of the collective will member governments contribute in accordance
of all member countries. with an agreed cost-sharing formula.

MEMBER AND PARTNER COUNTRIES

signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April 1949

MEMBER COUNTRIES (+DATES OF ACCESSION) PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE (PFP) COUNTRIES ISTANBUL COOPERATION
Albania - 2009 Lithuania - 2004 Armenia Republic of Moldova INITIATIVE COUNTRIES (ICI)
Belgium - 1949 Luxembourg - 1949 Austria Russia
Bahrain
Bulgaria - 2004 Montenegro - 2017 Azerbaijan Serbia
Kuwait
Canada - 1949 Netherlands - 1949 Belarus Sweden
Qatar
Croatia - 2009 Norway - 1949 Bosnia and Herzegovina Switzerland
United Arab Emirates
Czech Republic - 1999 Poland - 1999 Finland Tajikistan
Denmark - 1949 Portugal - 1949 Georgia the former Yugoslav
Estonia - 2004 Romania - 2004 Ireland Republic of Macedonia* PARTNERS ACROSS THE GLOBE
France - 1949 Slovakia - 2004 Kazakhstan Turkmenistan Afghanistan
Ukraine
1042-17 © NATO 2017 - ENG

Germany - 1955 Slovenia - 2004 Kyrgyzstan Australia

Greece - 1952 Spain - 1982 Malta Uzbekistan Colombia
Hungary - 1999 Turkey - 1952 Iraq
Iceland - 1949 United Kingdom - 1949 Japan
MEDITERRANEAN DIALOGUE COUNTRIES (MD)
Italy - 1949 United States - 1949 Republic of Korea
Algeria Mauritania
Latvia - 2004 Mongolia
Egypt Morocco
New Zealand
Israel Tunisia
Pakistan
* Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with Jordan
its constitutional name.