NATO Full Form: The full form of NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is a military and political alliance of 28 countries.
The organization was formed To protect the freedom and security of the member states. NATO was created for collective defence on 4 April 1949, meaning an attack on any of its member states would be viewed as an attack on all of its allies.
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What is NATO?
NATO is North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It is a military and political alliance of 28 countries.
The primary objective of NATO is to protect and safeguard the independence of its member states. But it has had to expand its purpose in recent years with increasing references to violence and has agreed that it will also protect member states from cyberattacks, terrorism, and weapons of mass destruction.
NATO Member Countries:
NATO member countries include 2 North American countries, 27 European countries and 1 Eurasian country.
NATO Members Countries and Joining Date List:
| NATO countries | Joining Date |
| Albania | 2009 |
| Belgium | 1949 |
| Bulgaria | 2004 |
| Canada | 1949 |
| Croatia | 2009 |
| Czech Republic | 1999 |
| Denmark | 1949 |
| Estonia | 2004 |
| France | 1949 |
| Germany | 1955 |
| Greece | 1952 |
| Hungary | 1999 |
| Iceland | 1949 |
| Italy | 1949 |
| Latvia | 2004 |
| Lithuania | 2004 |
| Luxembourg | 1949 |
| Montenegro | 2017 |
| Netherlands | 1949 |
| North Macedonia | 2020 |
| Norway | 1949 |
| Poland | 1999 |
| Portugal | 1949 |
| Romania | 2004 |
| Slovakia | 2004 |
| Slovenia | 2004 |
| Spain | 1982 |
| Turkey | 1952 |
| The United Kingdom | 1949 |
| The United States | 1949 |
NATO Partner Countries List:
- Armenia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Finland
- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Ireland, Kazakhstan
- Georgia
- Kyrghyz Republic
- Malta
- The Republic of Moldova
- Russia
- Serbia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
NATO membership is open to “any other European state in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.”
Is Ukraine in NATO?
Notably, Ukraine is not currently a member of NATO, but it is a partner country. This means that there is an understanding between Ukraine and NATO that the country may join in the future.