April 4 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of collective defence across Europe and North America, through NATO. The North Atlantic Treaty (also known as the Washington Treaty) was signed by the Foreign Ministers from twelve countries in Washington, D.C, and it has now become an alliance of thirty-two nations.
NATO was originally founded to counter the Soviet Union’s threat after World War II, and its primary aim is to defend its members from hostility, particularly from Russia, as seen in its recent actions in Ukraine.
The alliance encompasses close to one billion people and approximately 50% of the world’s GDP. There are 3.2 million men and women serving in NATO militaries, with Iceland being the only member without its own army.
NATO is a system of collective defence where member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. An attack on one member shall be considered an attack on all members.
The system of NATO also aims to foster partnerships and cooperation with non-member countries and international organisations to promote stability, security, and peace.
Since 1949, NATO has deployed forces to various locations to protect its members or support international security efforts. Such deployments include some NATO countries deploying forces to support South Korea against the communist North Korean invasion (Korean War (1950-1953).
NATO also conducted several operations during the Balkan War (1992-1995), and the Kosovo War (1998-1999). In Afghanistan (2001-2021) the alliance deployed forces to Afghanistan to support the United States in its efforts to dismantle the Taliban regime and eliminate Al-Qaeda.
NATO intervened in Libya (2011) to enforce a no-fly zone and protect civilians during the Libyan Civil War. This operation, (Operation Unified Protector), led to the overthrow of the Muammar Gaddafi regime.