"The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) was created at the outset of the cold war, with its founding aims to act as a bulwark against the Soviet Union and guarantee the security of its members through political and military means. At its core is the principle of collective security and the belief that an attack on one member is an attack against all, as enshrined in Article 5 of the treaty."
"After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, a period of enlargement began which saw new democracies such as Hungary, Poland and Estonia join. The most recent members are Finland and Sweden, which applied to join in the aftermath of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Nato personnel have been deployed to a number of conflicts, including carrying out airstrikes during the war in former Yugoslavia and a years-long mission to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks."
NATO formed at the start of the Cold War to deter the Soviet Union and guarantee member security. Collective security in Article 5 binds members to treat an attack on one as an attack on all; Article 5 was invoked only after the 9/11 attacks. The alliance is open to European states and now comprises 32 members. Enlargement followed the Soviet collapse, bringing Central and Eastern European democracies, with Finland and Sweden most recently admitted. NATO forces have been deployed to conflicts such as Yugoslavia and Afghanistan. Renewed Russian threats and US pressure led most members to raise defence spending in June 2025.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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