NATO facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord
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Abbreviation	NATO OTAN
Formation	4 April 1949 (75 years ago) (1949-04-04)
Type	Military alliance
Headquarters	Brussels, Belgium
Membership	32 states Albania Belgium Bulgaria Canada Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Montenegro Netherlands North Macedonia Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Turkey United Kingdom United States
Official languages	English French
Secretary General	Mark Rutte
Chair of the NATO Military Committee	Giuseppe Cavo Dragone
Supreme Allied Commander Europe	Christopher G. Cavoli
Supreme Allied Commander Transformation	Pierre Vandier
Expenses (2024)	Total: US$1.474 trillion Excluding the US: US$507 billion
Anthem: "The NATO Hymn" Motto: "Animus in consulendo liber"

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), or North Atlantic Alliance, the Atlantic Alliance, the Western Alliance, is a military alliance. Established in the aftermath of World War II, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April 1949. NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties. During the Cold War, NATO operated as a check on the threat posed by the Soviet Union. The alliance remained in place after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, and has been involved in military operations in the Balkans, the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.

When did NATO start?

NATO was created on April 4, 1949. It was formed after World War II. After the war, some countries wanted to make sure that something like that never happened again. So, they decided to create a club where they could all work together to keep the peace.

Why was NATO created?

The main reason NATO was created was to protect its member countries from any potential problems. The countries in NATO agreed that if one of them was attacked, the others would come to help. This is called "collective defense." It's like saying, "If you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us!"

Who are the members of NATO?

When NATO first started, there were 12 founding members. These countries were:

1. Belgium
2. Canada
3. Denmark
4. France
5. Iceland
6. Italy
7. Luxembourg
8. Netherlands
9. Norway
10. Portugal
11. United Kingdom
12. United States

Over the years, more countries have joined NATO. As of today, there are 32 member countries! The newest member is Sweden, which joined on March 7, 2024.

How does NATO work?

NATO works by having all the member countries agree to work together. They have meetings to discuss important issues and make plans together. The main decision-making body in NATO is called the North Atlantic Council (NAC). It's like the head office where all the important decisions are made.

NATO also has a military structure. This means that the member countries work together to train their soldiers and share military resources. This helps them be ready to respond to any problems that might arise.

What does NATO do?

NATO has been involved in many different activities over the years. Here are a few examples:

• Peacekeeping: NATO has helped keep the peace in different parts of the world. For example, it sent troops to Bosnia and Kosovo to help stop conflicts and protect people.
• Training: NATO helps train the military forces of other countries. This helps them be better prepared to defend themselves and keep their own citizens safe.
• Disaster Relief: NATO has also helped out when there have been natural disasters. For example, it sent aid to countries that were hit by earthquakes and hurricanes.

NATO's motto

NATO has a special motto in Latin: "animus in consulendo liber." This means "a mind unfettered in deliberation." It's a fancy way of saying that NATO members are free to think and talk openly when they're making decisions together.

Where is NATO's headquarters?

NATO's main headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium. Brussels is like the capital city of NATO! This is where many of the important meetings and decisions take place.

NATO's military strength

All the countries in NATO have armies, navies, and air forces. When you add them all together, it's a very big and strong military force! As of 2022, the combined military spending of all NATO members was about 55 percent of the total military spending in the whole world. That's a lot!

NATO's Strategic Concepts

NATO has some important ideas that guide its actions. One of these is called "deterrence." Deterrence means trying to prevent something from happening by showing that you're ready to respond if it does. It's like saying, "We don't want any trouble, but if you start something, we're ready to defend ourselves!"

NATO in the 21st century

In the 21st century, NATO has continued to play an important role in keeping the peace. It has been involved in efforts to fight terrorism, prevent cyber attacks, and respond to new challenges.

Key events in NATO's history

• 1949: NATO is founded with 12 member countries.
• 1952: Greece and Turkey join NATO.
• 1955: West Germany joins NATO.
• 1982: Spain joins NATO.
• 1999: Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic join NATO.
• 2001: NATO invokes Article 5 for the first time after the September 11 attacks.
• 2004: Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia join NATO.
• 2009: Albania and Croatia join NATO.
• 2017: Montenegro joins NATO.
• 2020: North Macedonia joins NATO.
• 2023: Finland joins NATO.
• 2024: Sweden joins NATO.

Fun facts about NATO

• NATO's official languages are English and French.
• NATO has a special flag with a white star inside a dark blue circle.
• NATO has a special song called the "NATO Hymn."

NATO's role in the world

NATO is an important organization that helps keep the world safe and secure. By working together, the member countries of NATO can respond to problems and protect their citizens.

NATO's structure in detail

To understand how NATO works, it's helpful to know about its structure. Here's a closer look at the different parts of NATO:

1. The North Atlantic Council (NAC): This is the main decision-making body in NATO. It's made up of representatives from all the member countries. The NAC meets regularly to discuss important issues and make decisions about NATO's policies and activities.
2. The Secretary General: The Secretary General is the top official in NATO. They are responsible for leading the organization and making sure that everyone is working together effectively.
3. The Military Committee (MC): This is the highest military authority in NATO. It's made up of the Chiefs of Defence from all the member countries. The MC advises the NAC on military matters and helps develop NATO's military strategy.
4. Allied Command Operations (ACO): This is the NATO command responsible for NATO operations around the world. It's like the headquarters for all of NATO's military activities.
5. Allied Command Transformation (ACT): This is the NATO command responsible for improving NATO's military capabilities. It helps NATO adapt to new challenges and stay ahead of the curve.
6. The NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA): This is a body that brings together members of parliament from all the NATO member countries. The PA discusses important security issues and helps promote cooperation between NATO and its member countries.

NATO's Operations in detail

NATO has been involved in many different operations over the years:

1. Operation Unified Protector: This was a NATO operation in Libya in 2011. The goal of the operation was to protect civilians from attacks by the Libyan government. NATO enforced a no-fly zone over Libya and conducted air strikes against military targets.
2. Operation Active Endeavour: This is a NATO operation in the Mediterranean Sea. The goal of the operation is to prevent terrorism and other illegal activities. NATO ships patrol the Mediterranean Sea and monitor shipping traffic.
3. Operation Resolute Support: This is a NATO operation in Afghanistan. The goal of the operation is to train and advise the Afghan security forces. NATO troops are helping the Afghan army and police become more effective at protecting their country.
4. NATO Response Force (NRF): This is a high-readiness force that can be deployed quickly to respond to crises around the world. The NRF is made up of troops from all the NATO member countries.

Related pages

• United Nations

Images for kids

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  West Germany joined NATO in 1955, which led to the formation of the rival Warsaw Pact during the Cold War.

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  The Fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 marked a turning point in NATO's role in Europe, and a section of the wall is now displayed outside NATO Headquarters.

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  German KFOR soldiers on patrol in southern Kosovo in 1999

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  KFOR-MSU Carabinieri Patrols in front of the Ibar Bridge in Mitrovica, Kosovo, 2019

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  General Austin S. Miller (right) became commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan in September 2018 and oversaw the withdrawal until July 2021.

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  USS Farragut destroying a Somali pirate skiff in March 2010

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  Libyan Army Palmaria howitzers destroyed by the French Air Force near Benghazi in March 2011

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  Protestors at a February 2022 rally against Russia's invasion of Ukraine march past the statue of Tsar Alexander II in Senate Square in Helsinki

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  Partnership for Peace conducts multinational military exercises like Cooperative Archer, which took place in Tbilisi in July 2007 with 500 servicemen from four NATO members, eight PfP members, and Jordan, a Mediterranean Dialogue participant.

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  The North Atlantic Council convening in 2010 with a defence/foreign minister configuration

See also

In Spanish: OTAN para niños