NATO

An intercontinental alliance for optimal security

Flag design from October 1953

Copyleft Mysid, under the GNU Free Documentation License.

NATO: North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Formed with the signing ofthe North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949

Original goal: to establish a stable alliance capable of unified defence

Credit: NATO Multimedia

Currently 26 nations, originally 12:i.Belgiumii.Canadaiii.Denmarkiv.Francev.Icelandvi.Italyvii.Luxembourgviii.Netherlandsix.Norwayx.Portugalxi.United Kingdomxii.United States

© 2004 NATO Multimedia. Modified from original.

Aimed at “promot[ing] stabilityand well-being in the North Atlantic area” Sought to unite efforts for collective defence Sought to use peaceful means where possible Sought to stabilize various international

conditions through economic policies

Aimed at “develop[ing] their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack” Established a military alliance between

militarily mighty nations including the US, the UK, France

Authorized use of force to aid othermember nations, or in retaliation

POLITICAL

Led by theSecretary-General of NATO

Each country sends a senior delegate as Permanent Member

Headquarters inBrussels, Belgium

Decisions are made in the Northern Atlantic Council (NAC), meets once a week

MILITARY

Led by the Chairman of the Military Committee (presently Gen. Henault)

Each country sends senior military officials

Duties split to two Strategic Commands led by US officers Separately headquartered

in Norfolk, Virginia and Casteau, Belgium

Bosnia, 1994:first NATO military incident, shot down4 Bosnian Serb aircraft while enforcingUN-mandatedno-fly zone

Kosovo, 1999:first large-scale deployment, bombed Yugoslavia for 11 weeks Unauthorized by UN,

war was never declared “Accidental” bombing of

the Chinese embassy in Belgrade

US rejects demands for UN approval of NATO military activities

Armed attack against a member in North America or Europe = aggression against all member nations

In such a case, all NATO nations will assist the country that was attacked, in exercise of the right to self-defence Armed force to restore or maintain security

is permitted

In October of 2001, President Bush invoked Article 5 to receive NATO assistance Aircraft deployed to assist

the US in protecting its airspace(Operation Eagle Assist)

NATO also deployed naval forces to the Mediterranean Sea(Operation Active Endeavour)

Credit: BigFoto. Used for educational purposes.

Afghanistan, 2003-present:NATO takes over International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) under UN mandate To assist the Government of Afghanistan To promote democracy & fair elections To spread the rule of law To aid in reconstruction

Afghanistan, 2006-present:Canada, UK, Netherlands took over in the Southern parts of Afghanistan from American anti-terrorism mission

Presence in Afghanistan 2500-soldiers in Southern region, Kandahar Primarily battling the Taliban Commitment to mission expires February 2009

Military leader of NATO’s armed forces: General Henault, a Canadian figure in a vital

role

NATO Biographies: Chairman of the Military Committee, General Raymond Henault. (2007, December 17). Retrieved January 09, 2008, from North Atlantic Treaty Organization: http://www.nato.int/cv/milcom/henault-e.htm

NATO Organisation: Civilian & military structures. (2007, November 27). Retrieved January 05, 2008, from North Atlantic Treaty Organization: http://www.nato.int/structur/structure.htm

NATO Topics: NATO Headquarters. (2007, July 30). Retrieved January 06, 2008, from North Atlantic Treaty Organization: http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_hq/index.html

Simpson, E. (2000, January 1). Canada's NATO commitment. Retrieved January 11, 2008, from Behind the Headlines: http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-28766202_ITM

Wikipedia contributors. (2008, January 11). 1999 NATO bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1999_NATO_bombing_of_the_Federal_Republic_of_Yugoslavia&oldid=183737407

Wikipedia contributors. (2008, January 12). NATO. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NATO&oldid=183833683

Wikipedia contributors. (2008, January 13). Warsaw Pact. Retrieved January 13, 2008, from Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Warsaw_Pact&oldid=184071240