Published on 21 Jun 2024
PolityNATO
SECURITY
COLLECTIVE SECURITY
IR
NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance of 32 countries from North America and Europe, formed in 1949 with the signing of the Washington Treaty.
Sweden formally joined NATO as the 32nd member on 2024
NATO’s fundamental goal is to safeguard the Allies’ freedom and security by political and military means.
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty — that an attack against one ally is an attack against all — is at the core of the Alliance, a promise of collective defence.
Beyond collective defense, NATO is involved in crisis management operations, promoting democratic values, and maintaining strong military capabilities.