NATO

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NATO

• Social Studies 10
• Canadian Political Sovereignty

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Development of NATO

• NATO was formed in 1949 in response to the
  development of the Cold War following the
  conclusion of World War II in 1945.
• NATO is very closely bound to the events of the
  Cold War and the ongoing search for peace and
  security.

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Formation of NATO

• In January 1948 the United Kingdom (UK), fearing
  the massive Soviet army, suggested that a Western
  Union be formed to help protect Western Europe
  from the threat of communism.
• In April 1949 the North Atlantic Treaty (NATO)
  was signed in Washington by the members of the
  Brussels Treaty plus Canada, the United States,
  Denmark, Norway and Portugal.
• The premise behind the alliance was to provide
  mutual assistance if any member should be
  attacked.

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Formation Continued

• The treaty stated in part the parties agree that
  an armed attack against one or more of them in
  Europe or North America shall be considered an
  attack against all of them.
• Under the terms of its charter, NATO is an
  organization of sovereign states equal in status,
  and decisions taken are expressions of the
  collective will of member governments.
• In 1955 the Soviet Union, with Albania, Bulgaria,
  Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland and
  Romania, establish the Warsaw Pact to counter the
  NATO alliance. Warsaw Pact forces fell under the
  command of the Soviet Union. Europe was once
  again divided into rival alliances.

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Formation Continued

• On March 29, 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
  Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia
  formally became members of NATO by depositing
  their instruments of accession with the United
  States Government. These 7 counties added to the
  original 19 members brought the total number of
  countries to 26.

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Functions of NATO

• NATO's essential purpose is to safeguard the
  freedom and security of all its members by
  political and military means in accordance with
  the principles of the United Nations Charter.
• It is an inter-governmental organization in which
  member countries retain their full sovereignty
  and independence.

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Canada and NATO

• Canada has been a member of North Atlantic Treaty
  Organization (NATO) since it was founded in 1949,
  with the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in
  Washington DC.
• During deliberations leading to the North
  Atlantic Treaty, Canada worked to ensure a
  commitment to non-military cooperation.

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Members of NATO
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Websites

• Official NATO Website
• http//www.nato.int/
• Wikipedia Article
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NATO
• Maps of NATO Countries
• http//www.nato.int/education/maps.htm