NATO was established after World War II as part of the United Nations. Its primary purpose was to defend member nations against the large number of troops in pro-communist countries. The U.S. also wanted to maintain a presence in Europe, to prevent a resurgence of military nationalism and foster political union.

1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)
An overview of NATO in Pakistan
ABSTRACT
NATO was established after World War II as part of
the United Nations. Its primary purpose was to defend
member nations against the large number of troops in
pro-communist countries. The U.S. also wanted to
maintain a presence in Europe, to prevent a
resurgence of military nationalism and foster political
union. Over the years the perception of NATO has
changed
Ayesha Majid
Academic Writing

2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Introduction
NATO is an organization formed in Washington, D.C. in 1949. The
association comprises of the 12 realms of the Atlantic Pact together
contiguous with Greece, Turkey, and the Federal Republic of Germany,
for the perseverance of collective defence against aggression and
prevent uprising of another world war. It was established by the North
Atlantic Treaty (April, 1949) (also called the Washington Treaty). Later in
1994 it launched the Partnership for Peace initiative, in order to forge
alliances with former Warsaw Pact countries. It sought to create a
counterweight to Soviet armies stationed in central and Eastern Europe
after World War II. Its original members were Belgium, Canada,
Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,
Portugal, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Joining the original
signatories were Greece and Turkey (1952); West Germany (1955; from
1990 as Germany); Spain (1982); in 1997 a treaty of cooperation with
Russia was signed; the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland (1999);
Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia
(2004); and Albania and Croatia (2009). France withdrew from the
integrated military command of NATO in 1966 but remained a member
of the organization; it resumed its position in NATO’s military command
in 2009.
NATO was established after World War II as part of the United
Nations. Its primary purpose was to defend member nations against
the large number of troops in pro-communist countries. The U.S. also
wanted to maintain a presence in Europe, to prevent a resurgence of
military nationalism and foster political union.
“The heart of NATO is expressed in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty,
in which the signatory members agree that
an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America
shall be considered an attack against them all; and consequently they
agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of
the right of individual or collective self-defense recognized by Article 51 of
the Charter of the United Nations, will assist

3. the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in
concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary,
including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security
of the North Atlantic area.”
NATO invoked Article 5 for the first time in 2001, after terrorist attacks
organized by exiled Saudi Arabian millionaire Osama bin Laden
destroyed the World Trade Centre in New York City and part of the
Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., killing some 3,000 people.
NATO is the first peacetime alliance in U.S. history. It is an alliance of
nations with shared values. All members are DEMOCRACIES. NATO
has been the most important U.S. alliance for the past (almost) 60 years.
No NATO member was ever attacked during the Cold War – it never had
to use its military forces. The first (and only) time a NATO member was
attacked was September 11, 2001; the attack on twin towers in U.S
NATO Alliance
Why NATO was formed
The Cold War was in full swing, as the Soviet Union was rising to power,
capturing satellite countries. Using their strong dynamic forces, the Soviet
Union captured surrounding countries first to help protect them from any
invasion. This tactic was used to imprison civilians and force them to join
the Soviet military. As their armed forces greatly increased

4. in numbers, other countries and nations feared that the Soviet
Union would expand their control and take over other countries.
In response to this, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed.
NATO is a formal alliance between the territories of North American
and European countries. From its inception, its main purpose was to
defend each other from the possibility of communist Soviet Union taking
control of their nation. Many powerful countries joined NATO by the
signing of the official document. In 1950, General Dwight D.
Eisenhower was nominated and appointed as the first supreme allied
commander. Since Eisenhower was from the United States, this
allowed the U.S. to be a strong force in the organization.
“NATO provides a political-military framework for managing security
challenges, that links European and North American interests and aims
to build security based on understanding and cooperation for the
benefit of future generations.”(TOGETHER FOR SECURITY An
introduction to NATO)
Structure of NATO
The North Atlantic Council, was established immediately after the
commencement of the treaty. It composed of ministerial representatives
from member states, who meet at least twice a year. The council, is
chaired by the NATO secretary-general, who in permanent session has
the role of ambassadorial level. Just as the position of SACEUR has
always been held by an American, the secretary-general ship has
always been held by a European.
NATO’s military organization encompasses a complete system of
commands for all possible wartimes. The Military Committee, entails
representatives like military chiefs of staff of the member states.
Subsumes two strategic commands:
1. Allied Command Operations (ACO); ACO is headed by the
SACEUR and located at Supreme Headquarters Allied
Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Caste au, Belgium
2. Allied Command Transformation (ACT); ACT is headquartered in
Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
During the alliance’s first 20 years, more than $3 billion worth of
“infrastructure” for NATO forces-bases, airfields, pipelines,
communications networks, depots was jointly planned, financed, and

5. built. About one-third of the funding was from the United States. NATO
funding generally is not used for the procurement of military equipment,
as it is provided by the member states. However the NATO Airborne
Early Warning Force, a fleet of radar-bearing aircraft designed to protect
against a surprise low-flying attack, was funded jointly.
How NATO works
Under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty: The Parties agree that an
armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America
shall be considered an attack against them all, and consequently agree
that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of their
right of individual or collective self-defence recognised by Article 51 of the
Charter of the United Nations, will assist the Party or Parties so attacked
by taking forthwith, individually, and in concert with the other Parties,
such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to
restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.
The Alliance’s Strategic Concept (2010)
▪
Collective defence
- Art. 5, the bedrock of the Alliance
▪
Crisis Management
- Address the full spectrum of crises – before, during & after
conflicts
▪
Cooperative Security
- Partnerships
- Arms control, non-proliferation disarmament
- Enlargement
What is NATO doing?
NATO has three core tasks:
•collective defence
•crisis management
•cooperative security through partnerships.
The Alliance is committed to protecting its members through political and
military means. It promotes democratic values and is dedicated to the
peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military
capability needed to undertake collective defence and crisis-
management operations alone or in cooperation with partner countries
and international organizations. The International Security Assistance
Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan is currently NATO’s main priority.
There, NATO’s core role is to assist the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Afghanistan in exercising and extending its authority across

6. the country while helping create a stable and secure environment in
which reconstruction and development can take place.
NATO Alliances:
NATO is involved with three alliances that expand its influence beyond
its 28 member countries.
1. The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council - Created in 1991, it
includes 23 countries that support NATO's purpose.
Participation in the Partnership allows partners a vehicle to
become NATO members.
2. The Mediterranean Dialogue - Begun in 1994, its goal is to bring a
stabilizing influence to the Middle East region. Members of the
dialogue include Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania,
Morocco and Tunisia.
3. The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative - Launched in 2004, it includes
these four members of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain,
Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. Its goal is to foster
peace throughout the larger Middle East region.
4. In addition, NATO cooperates with eight other countries in joint
security issues. These countries include five in Asia (Australia,
Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and New Zealand) and two in
the Middle East (Afghanistan and Pakistan).
NATO in today’s world
Today, NATO is ideally an outstanding way for the twenty-six different
countries and nations to come together. As an organization, the leaders
meet with one another to make decisions about security issues and
defensive issues against allied attacks. Also, NATO has armed forces,
made up of civilians of all twenty-six countries. They defend and aid
countries in crisis, just like Darfur. The North Atlantic Council is made up
of knowledgeable political and military leaders represented by each
country. This council comes to a consensus on making important
decisions on what political and military tactics to use, for daily activity.
“We, the political leaders of NATO, are determined to continue renewal
of our Alliance so that it is fit for purpose in addressing the 21st Century
security challenges [...] Our Alliance thrives as a source of hope
because it is based on common values of individual liberty, democracy,

7. human rights and the rule of law, and because our common essential
and enduring purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its
members. These values and objectives are universal and perpetual,
and we are determined to defend them through unity, solidarity, strength
and resolve. Strategic Concept Lisbon Summit, November 2010”
In addition to its traditional role in the territorial defence of Allied nations,
NATO leads the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) in Afghanistan and has ongoing missions in the Balkans and the
Mediterranean, leaded by U.S. It also conducts extensive training
exercises and offers security support to partners around the globe,
including the European Union in particular but also the United Nations
and the African Union.
SOURCES
Sources:
1. “Cold War.” The Columbia Encyclopaedia. 2006.
Columbia University Press. 23 May 2008. .
2. Peters, Gerhard. “Cold War.” Issues: Understanding
Controversies and Society. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 29 May 2008.
3. Pierpaoli, Paul. “Cold War (Overview).” United States at War:
Understanding Conflict and Society. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 29
May 2008.
4. Veve, Thomas D. “The Space Race: Cold War.” United States at
War: Understanding Conflict and Society. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 29
May 2008.
5. http://useconomy.about.com/od/internationalorganizations/p/United
-Nations.htm
6. http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rt/nato/