How many nato countries are there

These cookies are required as a minimum for the website to function properly. These cookies collect - completely anonymously - data about the use of the website in order to provide visitors with an even better user experience. About us Operations Newsroom Contacts. Search our content. It was established at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty on 4 April Article Five of the treaty states that if an armed attack occurs against one of the member states, it should be considered an attack against all members, and other members shall assist the attacked member, with armed forces if necessary.

Although each and every signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty is subject to the obligations of the Treaty, there remains a certain degree of flexibility which allows members to choose how they participate. The memberships of Iceland and France, for instance, illustrate this point. When Iceland signed the Treaty in , it did not have — and still does not have — armed forces.

There is no legal impediment to forming them, but Iceland has chosen not to have any. However, Iceland has a Coast Guard, national police forces, an air defence system and a voluntary expeditionary peacekeeping force. Since , Iceland has also benefitted from a long-standing bilateral defence agreement with the United States. In , US forces were withdrawn but the defence agreement remains valid.

In practical terms, while France still fully participated in the political instances of the Organization, it was no longer represented on certain committees, for instance, the Defence Planning Committee and the Nuclear Planning Group.

The stationing of foreign weapons, including nuclear weapons, was also banned. From the early s onwards, France distanced itself from the decision with, for instance, its participation at the meetings of defence ministers from Seville onwards and the presence of French officers in Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation structures from At a time when there was a fear of communist expansion throughout Europe and other parts of the world Soviet support of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in , extending security to southeastern Europe was strategically important.

Not only did NATO membership curb communist influence in Greece — a country recovering from civil war — but it also relieved Turkey from Soviet pressure for access to key strategic maritime routes. Sort alphabetically or Sort by date. It helps aspiring members prepare for membership and meet key requirements by providing practical advice and targeted assistance. Security in our daily lives is key to our well-being.

If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations. These are carried out under the collective defence clause of NATO's founding treaty - Article 5 of the Washington Treaty or under a United Nations mandate, alone or in cooperation with other countries and international organisations.

NATO is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several of its members is considered as an attack against all. This is the principle of collective defence , which is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty.

It provides a unique link between these two continents, enabling them to consult and cooperate in the field of defence and security, and conduct multinational crisis-management operations together.

Its founding treaty was signed in Washington , D. NATO's purpose was to protect democratic nations against the spread of communism in Europe. Importantly, the treaty sets out the idea of collective defense, meaning that an attack against one Ally is considered an attack against all Allies.

Members of NATO have agreed to a system of collective defense for its members.