NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Founded in 1949

After World War II the Soviet “Red Army” remained in the area of Eastern Europe they had driven the Nazi’s from.

The perceived threat led the USA and the countries of combatants in Western Europe to form an alliance to offset the Soviet threat of expansion into Western Europe.

To offset NATO, the Soviet Union created the “Warsaw Pact,” a defense organization to counter NATO. This was made up of the Soviet Union and it’s “satellite” nations in Eastern Europe.

Current members of NATO in shades of blue.

The core of NATO is Article V of the NATO Treaty, which states:

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. Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the 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 purpose of NATO was to create a united front to stop Soviet expansion in Europe. After the fall of the Soviet Union NATO forces have been used to halt violence in Europe (albeit with little enthusiasm) in Bosnia and Kosovo.

While still a viable organization today, it’s role is still in transition with the inclusion of several former Warsaw Pact members after the fall of the Soviet Union.

The US and NATO agreed to move defensive missiles into Poland to counter any potential threat from rogue states like Iran.

Those plans have been put on hold recently due to objections from Russia who sees the missiles as a threat to their security.

The USA still has over a hundred thousand troops stationed at various bases throughout Europe, particularly in Germany.