BRUSSELS, Belgium: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) marked its 75th anniversary this April, commemorating the signing of its founding treaty in Washington.
As members gather for a summit to reflect on its legacy and future, here are some essential facts and figures about this enduring military alliance.
NATO began in 1949 with just 12 founding members, including the United States, Canada, and several Western European nations. Its creation was a strategic move to counter the Soviet Union’s threat after World War II. The alliance’s first Secretary General, Lord Ismay, famously said NATO’s purpose was to “keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down.”
Over the decades, NATO has grown significantly. In 1952, Turkiye and Greece joined, followed by West Germany in 1955. After the Cold War, NATO expanded eastward, incorporating former Warsaw Pact countries and ex-Soviet states like Poland and the Baltic nations. The most recent additions are Finland and Sweden, who abandoned their non-alignment stance in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, bringing NATO’s membership to 32 countries.
NATO member countries collectively represent nearly one billion people and approximately 50% of the world’s GDP. They maintain a combined military force of 3.2 million personnel. Iceland is unique as the only NATO member without its own standing army.
The alliance’s core principle of collective defence is enshrined in Article Five of its charter, which states that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. This clause has been invoked only once, following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. This led to NATO’s long-term involvement in Afghanistan, which ended in 2021 with a controversial withdrawal.
In response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, NATO members pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence. This commitment was intensified after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with the 2% target now being the minimum expectation. By 2024, 23 NATO members are projected to meet or exceed this threshold, a significant increase from just three members in 2014.
Former US President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for not meeting their defence spending obligations, suggesting this laxity could embolden Russian aggression. However, NATO has seen a renewed commitment to defence investment, driven by escalating threats.
NATO has been involved in several major military operations beyond Europe. Notably, its intervention in Kosovo in 1999 and Bosnia in the mid-1990s marked significant engagements in the Balkans. The Kosovo Force (KFOR) remains NATO’s longest-running mission, still active 25 years later with around 4,500 troops.
NATO also conducted a nearly two-decade mission in Afghanistan and a bombing campaign in Libya in 2011. These operations reflect the alliance’s broader strategic interests and commitment to international security.
No country has ever left NATO, but internal dynamics have sometimes been strained. France, under President Charles de Gaulle, withdrew from NATO’s military command in 1966, citing US dominance, a decision reversed in 2009 by President Nicolas Sarkozy. Despite returning to full participation, France has periodically expressed skepticism about NATO’s direction. In 2019, President Emmanuel Macron described the alliance as experiencing “brain death,” though he later acknowledged that Russia’s actions in Ukraine had revitalized NATO.
As NATO commemorates its 75th anniversary, it stands as a testament to collective defence and strategic evolution, continuously adapting to new geopolitical realities while maintaining its foundational principles.
