lOTAN

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), known in French as l'OTAN (Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord), is a political and military alliance formed in 1949 by the North Atlantic Treaty. Its core purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through collective defense and political consultation, anchored in Article 5, which states that an armed attack against one member is considered an attack against all.

Founded in the early Cold War to deter Soviet expansion, NATO began with 12 member states, including the United States, Canada, and Western European nations. Since then it has expanded to include numerous European states; enlargement has reflected changes in the security environment in Europe, including Finland’s accession in 2023.

The alliance operates through a political decision-making process based on consensus. Its main governing body is the North Atlantic Council, supported by the Secretary General and a Military Committee. NATO maintains a unified command structure and defense planning process to coordinate forces and capabilities among members.

NATO conducts a range of activities beyond collective defense, including crisis management, deterrence on the alliance’s eastern flank, and cooperative security with partner nations. It has led and supported missions such as the Kosovo Force (KFOR) in Kosovo, security operations in the Baltic region, air and maritime security, and training and advisory programs.

NATO maintains partnerships with non-member states and with the European Union on security and defense issues. It finances operations through member contributions and emphasizes burden sharing, interoperability, cyber defense, and resilience as core priorities.