North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Why in news?

• Ukraine’s president has called on NATO and key member states to hasten his country’s membership of NATO in response to a growing buildup of Russian forces on his country’s borders.

About NATO:

• The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 North American and European countries.
• It was established by the North Atlantic Treaty (also called the Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
• NATO's mission is to protect the freedom of its members. Its targets include weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and cyber-attacks.
• NATO's protection does not extend to members' civil wars or internal coups.
• The most recent member state to be added to NATO was North Macedonia on 27 March 2020.
• NATO currently recognizes Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, and Ukraine as aspiring members.
• The combined military spending of all NATO members constitutes over 70% of the global nominal total.

Prelims Question

Which of the following countries is not a member of North Atlantic Treaty organization?
(a)Canada
(b)United Kingdom
(c)Japan
(d)Turkey

Answer to the Prelims Question