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| − | {{coor title dms|50|52|34.16|N|4|25|19.24|E|type:landmark}}
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| − | {{Infobox Organization
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| − | |name=North Atlantic Treaty Organization<br/><small>Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord</small>
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| − | |caption =
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| − | |map = Location NATO.svg
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| − | |mcaption = NATO countries shown in green
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| − | |type = [[Military alliance]]
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| − | |headquarters = [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]
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| − | |membership = 26 member states and 14 major allies
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| − | |language = [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]]<ref>"English and French shall be the official languages for the entire North Atlantic Treaty Organization.," [http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/49-95/c490917a.htm Final Communiqué following the meeting of the North Atlantic Council on September 17, 1949]. "(..)the English and French texts [of the Treaty] are equally authentic(...)"[http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm#Art14 The North Atlantic Treaty, Article 14]</ref>
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| − | |leader_title = [[NATO Secretary General|Secretary General]]
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| − | |leader_name = [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]]
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| − | |leader_title2 = [[Chairman of the Military Committee]]
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| − | |leader_name2 = [[Ray Henault|General Raymond Henault]]
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| − | |formation = 4 April 1949
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| − | |website = <div class="plainlinksneverexpand">http://www.nato.int/</div>
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| − | }}
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| − | {{portalpar|NATO}}
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| − | [[Image:NATO-2002-Summit.jpg|240px|thumb|NATO 2002 Summit in [[Prague]].]]
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| − | <!-- As per NATO official usage, this page used OXFORD SPELLING 'organization' rather than anything else —>
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| − | The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''' ('''NATO'''); {{lang-fr|'''Organisation du Traité de l'Atlantique Nord''' ('''OTAN''')}}; (also called the ''North Atlantic Alliance'', the ''Atlantic Alliance'', or the ''Western Alliance'') is a [[military alliance]] established by the signing of the [[North Atlantic Treaty]] on 4 April 1949. Headquartered in [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]],<ref>Boulevard Leopold III-laan, B-1110 BRUSSELS, which is in Haren, part of the [[City of Brussels]]. {{citeweb|url=http://www.nato.int/|title=NATO homepage|accessdate=2006-03-07}}</ref> the organization constitutes a system of [[collective defense]] in which its member states agree to mutual defense in response to an attack by any external party.
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| − | For its first few years, NATO was not much more than a political association. However the Korean War galvanized the member states, and an integrated military structure was built up under the direction of two U.S. supreme commanders. The first NATO [[Secretary General of NATO|Secretary General]] [[Lord Ismay]], famously described the organization's goal was "to keep the [[USSR|Russia]]ns out, the [[USA|Americans]] in, and the [[Germany|Germans]] down".<ref>cited in Reynolds, ''The origins of the Cold War in Europe. International perspectives'', p 13</ref> Throughout the Cold War doubts over the strength of the relationship between the European states and the United States ebbed and flowed, along with doubts over the credibility of the NATO defense against a prospective Soviet invasion–doubts that led to the development of the [[force de frappe|independent French nuclear deterrent]] and the withdrawal of the French from NATO's military structure from 1966.
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| − | After the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]] in 1989, the organization became drawn into the Balkans while building better links with former potential enemies to the east, which culminated with the former [[Warsaw Pact]] states—except Albania—joining the alliance in 1999 and 2004. Since the [[September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]], NATO has attempted to refocus itself to new challenges and has deployed troops to Afghanistan and [[NATO Training Mission - Iraq|trainers]] to Iraq.
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| − | ==History==
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| − | ===Beginnings===
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| − | The [[Treaty of Brussels]], signed on 17 March, 1948 by [[Belgium]], the [[Netherlands]], [[Luxembourg]], [[France]] and the [[United Kingdom]] is considered the precursor to the NATO agreement. The treaty and the Soviet [[Berlin Blockade]] led to the creation of the [[Western European Union]]'s Defense Organization in September 1948.<ref>David C. Isby & Charles Kamps Jr, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company Ltd 1985, p.13</ref> However, participation of the [[United States]] was thought necessary in order to counter the military power of the [[USSR]], and therefore talks for a new military alliance began almost immediately.
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| − | These talks resulted in the [[North Atlantic Treaty]], which was signed in [[Washington, D.C.]] on 4 April 1949. It included the five Treaty of Brussels states, as well as the [[United States]], [[Canada]], [[Portugal]], [[Italy]], [[Norway]], [[Denmark]] and [[Iceland]]. Support for the Treaty was not unanimous; Iceland suffered an [[1949 anti-NATO riot in Iceland|anti-NATO riot]] in March 1949 which may have been Communist-inspired. Three years later, on 18 February 1952, [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]] also joined.
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| − | {{quote|The Parties of NATO agreed that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all. Consequently they agree that, if such an armed attack occurs, each of them, in exercise of the right of individual or collective self-defense will assist the Party or Parties being attacked, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.}}
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| − | Such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force does not necessarily mean that other member states will respond with military action against the aggressor(s). Rather they are obliged to respond, but maintain the freedom to choose how they will respond. This differs from Article IV of the Treaty of Brussels (which founded the Western European Union) which clearly states that the response must include military action. It is however often assumed that NATO members will aid the attacked member militarily. Further, the article limits the organization's scope to Europe and North America, which explains why the [[Falkland war|invasion of the British Falkland Islands]] did not result in NATO involvement.
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| − | The outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950 was crucial for NATO as it raised the apparent threat level greatly (all Communist countries were suspected of working together) and forced the alliance to develop concrete military plans.<ref>David C. Isby & Charles Kamps Jr, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company Ltd 1985, p.13-14</ref> The 1952 Lisbon conference, seeking to provide the forces necessary for NATO's Long-Term Defense Plan, called for an expansion to 96 [[division (military)|division]]s. However this requirement was dropped the following year to roughly 35 divisions with heavier use to be made of [[nuclear weapons]]. At this time, NATO could call on about fifteen ready divisions in Central Europe, and another ten in Italy and Scandinavia.<ref>Robert E. Osgood, 'NATO: The Entangling Alliance,' University Press, Chicago, 1962, p.76, in William Park 'Defending the West,' Wheatsheaf Books, 1986, p.28</ref> Also at Lisbon, the post of [[Secretary General of NATO]] as the organization's chief civilian was also created, and Baron [[Hastings Ismay]] eventually appointed to the post.<ref>[[Time magazine]], [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816183,00.html The Man with the Oilcan], March 24, 1952</ref> Later, in September 1952, the first major NATO maritime exercises began; [[Operation Mainbrace]] brought together 200 ships and over 50,000 personnel to practice the defense of Denmark and Norway. Meanwhile, while this overt military preparation was going on, covert stay-behind arrangements to continue resistance after a successful Soviet invasion ('[[Operation Gladio]]'), initially made by the [[Western European Union]], were being transferred to NATO control. Ultimately unofficial bonds began to grow between NATO's armed forces, such as the [[NATO Tiger Association]] and competitions such as the [[Canadian Army Trophy]] for tank gunnery.
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| − | In 1954, the Soviet Union suggested that it should join NATO to preserve peace in Europe.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/nato/ |title=Fast facts |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> The NATO countries, fearing that the Soviet Union's motive was to weaken the alliance, ultimately rejected this proposal.
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| − | The incorporation of [[West Germany]] into the organization on 9 May 1955 was described as "a decisive turning point in the history of our continent" by [[Halvard Lange]], Foreign Minister of Norway at the time.<ref>BBC On This Day "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/may/9/newsid_2519000/2519979.stm1955: West Germany accepted into Nato]" bbc.co.uk </ref> A major reason for Germany's entry into the alliance was that without German manpower, it would have been impossible to field enough conventional forces to to resist a Soviet invasion.<ref>David C. Isby & Charles Kamps Jr, Armies of NATO's Central Front, Jane's Publishing Company Ltd 1985, p.15</ref> Indeed, one of its immediate results was the creation of the [[Warsaw Pact]], signed on 14 May 1955 by the Soviet Union, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, and East Germany, as a formal response to this event, thereby delineating the two opposing sides of the [[Cold War]].
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| − | The unity of NATO was breached early on in its history, with a crisis occurring during [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s presidency of France from 1958 onward. De Gaulle protested the United States' strong role in the organization and what he perceived as a [[Special Relationship (US-UK)|special relationship]] between the United States and the United Kingdom. In a memorandum sent to President [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and Prime Minister [[Harold Macmillan]] on 17 September 1958, he argued for the creation of a tripartite directorate that would put France on an equal footing with the United States and the United Kingdom, and also for the expansion of NATO's coverage to include geographical areas of interest to France, most notably [[Algeria]], where France was waging a counter-insurgency and sought NATO assistance.
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| − | Considering the response given to be unsatisfactory, and in order to give France, in the event of a East German incursion into West Germany, the option of coming to a separate peace with the Eastern bloc instead of being drawn into a NATO-Warsaw Pact global war, de Gaulle began to build an independent defence for his country. On 11 March 1959, France withdrew its [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] [[Naval fleet|fleet]] from NATO command; three months later, in June 1959, de Gaulle banned the stationing of foreign [[nuclear weapon]]s on French soil. This caused the United States to transfer two hundred military aircraft out of France and return control of the [[United States Air Force in France|ten major air force bases]] that had operated in France since 1950 to the French by 1967.
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| − | In the meantime, France had initiated an [[Nuclear weapons and France|independent nuclear]] [[Mutually assured destruction|deterrence]] programme, spearheaded by the ''"[[Force de frappe]]"'' ("Striking force"). France tested its first nuclear weapon, ''[[Gerboise Bleue]]'', on 13 February 1960, in (what was then) [[French Algeria]].
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| − | [[Image:Usaf-france-map.jpg|thumb|250px|Map of Major [[United States Air Forces in Europe|USAF]] bases in France before [[Charles de Gaulle]]'s 1966 withdrawal from NATO military integrated command.]]
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| − | Though France showed solidarity with the rest of NATO during the [[Cuban missile crisis]] in 1962, de Gaulle continued his pursuit of an independent defence by removing France's [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] and [[English Channel|Channel]] fleets from NATO command. In 1966, all French armed forces were removed from NATO's integrated military command, and all non-French NATO troops were asked to leave France. This withdrawal forced the relocation of the [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] (SHAPE) from [[Paris]] to [[Casteau]], north of [[Mons]], Belgium, by 16 October 1967. France remained a member of the alliance, and committed to the defense of Europe from possible Communist attack with its own forces stationed in the Federal Republic of Germany throughout this period. France rejoined NATO's Military Committee in 1995, and has since intensified working relations with the military structure. France has not, however, rejoined the integrated military command and no non-French NATO troops are allowed to be based on its soil. The policies of current French President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] appear to be aimed at eventual re-integration.
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| − | The creation of NATO brought about some [[standardization]] of allied [[military terminology]], procedures, and technology, which in many cases meant European countries adopting U.S. practices. The roughly 1300 Standardization Agreements ([[STANAG]]s) codifies the standardization that NATO has achieved. Hence, the [[7.62×51 NATO]] rifle cartridge was introduced in the 1950s as a standard firearm cartridge among many NATO countries. [[Fabrique Nationale]]'s [[FN FAL|FAL]] became the most popular 7.62 NATO rifle in Europe and served into the early 1990s. Also, [[Aircraft marshalling|aircraft marshalling signals]] were standardized, so that any NATO aircraft could land at any NATO base. Other standards such as the [[NATO phonetic alphabet]] have made their way beyond NATO into civilian use.
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| − | ===Détente===
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| − | {{main|Détente}}
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| − | During most of the duration of the Cold War, NATO maintained a holding pattern with no actual military engagement as an organization. On 1 July 1968, the [[Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty]] opened for signature: NATO argued that its [[nuclear weapons sharing]] arrangements did not breach the treaty as U.S. forces controlled the weapons until a decision was made to go to war, at which point the treaty would no longer be controlling. Few states knew of the NATO nuclear sharing arrangements at that time, and they were not challenged.
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| − | On 30 May 1978, NATO countries officially defined two complementary aims of the Alliance, to maintain security and pursue détente. This was supposed to mean matching defenses at the level rendered necessary by the Warsaw Pact's offensive capabilities without spurring a further [[arms race]].
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| − | On 12 December 1979, in light of a build-up of Warsaw Pact nuclear capabilities in Europe, ministers approved the deployment of U.S. [[GLCM]] [[cruise missile]]s and [[Pershing II]] theater nuclear weapons in Europe. The new warheads were also meant to strengthen the western negotiating position in regard to nuclear disarmament. This policy was called the [[Dual-Track Decision|Dual Track]] policy. Similarly, in 1983–84, responding to the stationing of Warsaw Pact [[SS-20]] medium-range missiles in Europe, NATO deployed modern Pershing II missiles tasked to hit military targets such as tank formations in the event of war. This action led to [[peace movement]] protests throughout Western Europe.
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| − | ===KAL 007 and NATO deployment of missiles in W. Europe===
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| − | With the background of the build-up of tension between the Soviet Union and the United States, NATO decided, under the impetus of the Reagan presidency, to deploy Pershing II and cruise missiles in Western Europe, primarily West Germany. These missiles were theater nuclear weapons intended to strike targets on the battlefield if the Soviets invaded West Germany. Yet support for the deployment was wavering and many doubted whether the push for deployment could be sustained. But on Sept. 1, 1983, the Soviet Union shot down a [[Korean Air Lines Flight 007|Korean airliner]], loaded with passengers, when it crossed into Soviet airspace–an act which President Reagan characterized as a "massacre." The barbarity of this act, as the U.S. and the world understood it, galvanized support for the deployment–which stood in place until the later accords between Reagan and Mikhael Gorbachev.
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| − | The membership of the organization in this time period likewise remained largely static. In 1974, as a consequence of the [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]], Greece withdrew its forces from NATO's military command structure, but, with Turkish cooperation, were readmitted in 1980. On 30 May 1982, NATO gained a new member when, following a [[referendum]], the newly democratic [[Spain]] joined the alliance.
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| − | In November 1983, NATO manoeuvres simulating a nuclear launch caused panic in the [[Kremlin]]. The Soviet leadership, led by ailing General Secretary [[Yuri Andropov]], became concerned that the manoeuvres, codenamed [[Able Archer 83]], were the beginnings of a genuine [[first strike]]. In response, Soviet nuclear forces were readied and air units in [[East Germany]] and [[Poland]] were placed on alert. Though at the time written off by U.S. intelligence as a propaganda effort, many historians now believe that the Soviet fear of a NATO first strike was genuine.
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| − | === Post Cold War ===
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| − | [[Image:NATO March 29 2004.jpg|250px|thumb|The NATO Secretary General, the U.S. President, and the Prime Ministers of Latvia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, and Estonia after a ceremony welcoming them into NATO on 29 March 2004 at the [[Istanbul]] Summit.]]
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| − | The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the [[Warsaw Pact]] in 1991 removed the ''de facto'' main adversary of NATO. This caused a strategic re-evaluation of NATO's purpose, nature and tasks. In practice this ended up entailing a gradual (and still ongoing) expansion of NATO to Eastern Europe, as well as the extension of its activities to areas that had not formerly been NATO concerns.
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| − | The first post-Cold War expansion of NATO came with the [[reunification of Germany]] on 3 October 1990, when the former [[East Germany]] became part of the [[Federal Republic of Germany]] and the alliance. This had been agreed in the [[Two Plus Four Treaty]] earlier in the year. To secure Soviet approval of a united Germany remaining in NATO, it was agreed that foreign troops and nuclear weapons would not be stationed in the east.
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| − | The scholar [[Stephen F. Cohen]] argued in 2005 that a commitment was given that NATO would never expand further east,<ref>Gorbachev's Lost Legacy by Stephen F. Cohen [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20050314/cohen (link)] [[The Nation]], February 24, 2005</ref> but according to [[Robert B. Zoellick]], then a [[State Department]] official involved in the Two Plus Four negotiating process, this appears to be a misperception; no formal commitment of the sort was made.<ref>Robert B. Zoellick, [http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-65576869.html The Lessons of German Unification], [[The National Interest]], September 22, 2000</ref> On May 7, 2008, [[The Daily Telegraph]] held an interview with Gorbachev in which he repeated his view that such a commitment had been made. Gorbachev said "the Americans promised that NATO wouldn't move beyond the boundaries of Germany after the Cold War but now half of central and eastern Europe are members, so what happened to their promises? It shows they cannot be trusted."<ref name="me">[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/1933223/Gorbachev-US-could-start-new-Cold-War.html Gorbachev: US could start new Cold War] [[Telegraph]] Retrieved on May 22, 2008</ref>
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| − | As part of post-Cold War restructuring, NATO's military structure was cut back and reorganized, with new forces such as the [[Headquarters Allied Command Europe Rapid Reaction Corps]] established. The
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| − | [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]] agreed between NATO and the Warsaw Pact and signed in Paris in 1990, mandated specific reductions. The changes brought about by the collapse of the Soviet Union on the military balance in Europe were recognized in the [[Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty]], signed some years later.
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| − | The first NATO military operation caused by the conflict in the former Yugoslavia was [[Operation Sharp Guard]], which ran from June 1993–October 1996. It provided maritime enforcement of the [[arms embargo]] and [[economic sanctions]] against the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]]. On 28 February 1994, NATO took its first military action, shooting down four Bosnian Serb aircraft violating a U.N.-mandated [[no-fly zone]] over central [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. [[Operation Deny Flight]], the no-fly-zone enforcement mission, had begun a year before, on 12 April 1993, and was to continue until 20 December 1995. NATO air strikes that year helped bring the [[Yugoslav wars|war in Bosnia]] to an end, resulting in the [[Dayton Agreement]], which in turn meant that NATO deployed a peacekeeping force, under [[Operation Joint Endeavor]], first named [[IFOR]] and then [[SFOR]], which ran from December 1996 to December 2004. Following the lead of its member nations, NATO began to award a service medal, the [[NATO Medal]], for these operations.
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| − | Between 1994 and 1997, wider forums for regional cooperation between NATO and its neighbors were set up, like the [[Partnership for Peace]], the [[Mediterranean Dialogue]] initiative and the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]]. On 8 July 1997, three former communist countries, [[Hungary]], the [[Czech Republic]], and [[Poland]], were invited to join NATO, which finally happened in 1999. In 1998, the [[NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council]] was established.
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| − | A NATO bombing campaign, [[Operation Deliberate Force]], began in August, 1995, against the [[Army of Republika Srpska]], after the [[Srebrenica massacre]]. On 24 March 1999, NATO saw its first broad-scale military engagement in the [[Kosovo War]], where it waged an 11-week bombing campaign, which NATO called [[Operation Allied Force]], against what was then the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]], in an effort to stop Serbian-led ethnic cleansing. A formal declaration of war never took place (in common with all wars since World War II). The conflict ended on 11 June 1999, when Yugoslavian leader [[Slobodan Milošević]] agreed to NATO’s demands by accepting [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244|UN resolution 1244]]. During the crisis, NATO also deployed one of its international reaction forces, the ACE Mobile Force (Land), to [[Albania]] as the Albania Force (AFOR), to deliver humanitarian aid to refugees from [[Kosovo]].<ref>[http://www.afsouth.nato.int/operations/harbour/ NATO website describing AFOR]</ref> NATO then helped establish the [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]], a NATO-led force under a [[United Nations]] mandate that operated the military mission in Kosovo. In August–September 2001, the alliance also mounted [[Operation Essential Harvest]], a mission disarming ethnic Albanian militias in the [[Republic of Macedonia]].
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| − | The United States, the United Kingdom, and most other NATO countries opposed efforts to require the U.N. Security Council to approve NATO military strikes, such as the ongoing action against Yugoslavia, while France and some others claimed that the alliance needed U.N. approval. The U.S./U.K. side claimed that this would undermine the authority of the alliance, and they noted that [[Russia]] and [[China]] would have exercised their Security Council vetoes to block the strike on [[Yugoslavia]], and could do the same in future conflicts where NATO intervention was required, thus nullifying the entire potency and purpose of the organization.
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| − | === After the September 11 attacks ===
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| − | [[Image:NATO Summit in Poiana Brasov 2004.jpg|thumb|right|250px|NATO Defence Ministers' Summit in [[Poiana Braşov]], 13-14 October 2004]]
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| − | The [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11 attacks]] caused NATO to invoke Article 5 of the NATO Charter for the first time in its history. The Article says that an attack on any member shall be considered to be an attack on all. The invocation was confirmed on 4 October 2001 when NATO determined that the attacks were indeed eligible under the terms of the North Atlantic Treaty.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2001/1001/e1002a.htm NATO Update: Invocation of Article 5 confirmed - 2 October 2001<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> The eight official actions taken by NATO in response to the attacks included : [[Operation Eagle Assist]] and [[Operation Active Endeavour]].
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| − | Operation Active Endeavour is a naval operation in the Mediterranean Sea and is designed to prevent the movement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction as well as to enhance the security of shipping in general. It began on October 4, 2001.
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| − | Despite this early show of solidarity, NATO faced a crisis little more than a year later, when on 10 February 2003, France and Belgium vetoed the procedure of silent approval concerning the timing of protective measures for Turkey in case of a possible war with [[Iraq]]. Germany did not use its right to break the procedure but said it supported the veto.
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| − | On the issue of [[Afghanistan]] on the other hand, the alliance showed greater unity: On 16 April 2003 NATO agreed to take command of the [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The decision came at the request of Germany and the Netherlands, the two nations leading ISAF at the time of the agreement, and all 19 NATO ambassadors approved it unanimously. The handover of control to NATO took place on 11 August, and marked the first time in NATO’s history that it took charge of a mission outside the north Atlantic area. [[Canada]] had originally been slated to take over ISAF by itself on that date.
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| − | In January 2004, NATO appointed Minister [[Hikmet Çetin]], of Turkey, as the Senior Civilian Representative (SCR) in Afghanistan. Minister Cetin is primarily responsible for advancing the political-military aspects of the Alliance in Afghanistan. In August 2004, following U.S. pressure, NATO formed the [[NATO Training Mission - Iraq]], a training mission to assist the Iraqi security forces in conjunction with the U.S. led [[MNF-I]].<ref>[[NATO Training Mission - Iraq]], [http://www.afsouth.nato.int/JFCN_Missions/NTM-I/NTMI_intro.htm Introduction], 17 September 2007</ref>
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| − | On 31 July 2006, a NATO-led force, made up mostly of troops from Canada, Great Britain, Turkey and the Netherlands, took over [[Coalition combat operations in Afghanistan in 2006|military operations in the south of Afghanistan]] from a U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition.
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| − | ===Expansion and restructuring===
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| − | [[Image:Map of NATO chronological.gif|300px|right|thumb|Map of NATO countries chronological membership. Light Blue marks new members]]
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| − | New NATO structures were also formed while old ones were abolished: The [[NATO Response Force]] (NRF) was launched at the [[2002 Prague Summit of NATO|2002 Prague Summit]] on 21 November. On 19 June 2003, a major restructuring of the NATO military commands began as the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic were abolished and a new command, [[Allied Command Transformation]] (ACT), was established in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], [[USA]], and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) became the Headquarters of [[Allied Command Operations]] (ACO). ACT is responsible for driving transformation (future capabilities) in NATO, while ACO is responsible for current operations.
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| − | Membership went on expanding with the accession of seven more Northern European and Eastern European countries to NATO: [[Estonia]], [[Latvia]] and [[Lithuania]] and also [[Slovenia]], [[Slovakia]], [[Bulgaria]], and [[Romania]]. They were first invited to start talks of membership during the 2002 Prague Summit, and joined NATO on 29 March 2004, shortly before the [[2004 Istanbul Summit]].
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| − | The same month, NATO's [[Baltic Air Policing]] began, which supported the sovereignty of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia by providing fighters to react to any unwanted aerial intrusions. Four fighters are based in Lithuania, provided in rotation by virtually all the NATO states. ''Operation Peaceful Summit'' temporarily enhanced this patrolling during the [[2006 Riga Summit]].<ref>L. NEIDINGER "NATO team ensures safe sky during Riga Summit" in ''[[Air Force Link]]'', December 8, 2006, [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123034224]</ref>
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| − | The [[2006 NATO summit]] was held in [[Riga]], [[Latvia]], which had joined the Atlantic Alliance two years earlier. It is the first [[NATO summit]] to be held in a country that was part of the [[Soviet Union]], and the second one in a former [[COMECON]] country (after the [[2002 Prague Summit]]). Energy Security was one of the main themes of the Riga Summit.<ref>{{cite paper | author=Nazemroaya, Mahdi Darius | title=The Globalization of Military Power: NATO Expansion | publisher=Centre for Research on Globalization |date=May 17, 2007 | url=http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=NAZ20070517&articleId=5677}}</ref>
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| − | At the April 2008 summit in [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]], NATO agreed to the accession of [[Croatia]] and [[Albania]] and invited them to join. [[Ukraine]] and [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] were also told that they will eventually become members (see [[NATO#Future Enlargement of NATO]] below).<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/04/03/nato.members/index.html U.S. wins NATO backing for missile defense shield - CNN.com<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
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| − | ===Involvement in Afghanistan: Taking over ISAF===
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| − | [[Image:NATO expansion.png|thumb|230px|Current membership of NATO in Europe.]]
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| − | {{main|International Security Assistance Force}}
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| − | In August 2003, NATO commenced its first mission ever outside Europe when it assumed control over [[International Security Assistance Force]] (ISAF) in [[Afghanistan]]. However, some critics feel that [[national caveats]] or other restrictions undermine the efficiency of ISAF. For instance, political scientist [[Joseph Nye]] stated in a 2006 article that "many NATO countries with troops in Afghanistan have 'national caveats' that restrict how their troops may be used. While the Riga summit relaxed some of these caveats to allow assistance to allies in dire circumstances, Britain, Canada, the Netherlands, and the U.S. are doing most of the fighting in southern Afghanistan, while French, German, and Italian troops are deployed in the quieter north. Due to the intensity of the fighting in the south, France has recently allowed a squadron of [[Mirage 2000]] fighter/attack aircraft to be moved into the area, to [[Kandahar International Airport|Khandahar]], in order to reinforce the alliance's efforts.<ref>[http://www.lemonde.fr/web/article/0,1-0@2-3232,36-949296@51-947771,0.html LeMonde.fr : La France et l'OTAN<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> It is difficult to see how NATO can succeed in stabilizing Afghanistan unless it is willing to commit more troops and give commanders more flexibility."<ref> J. NYE, 14 December 2006, [http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/nye40 NATO after Riga] ''Project Syndicate''</ref> If these caveats were to be eliminated, it is argued that this could help NATO to succeed.
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| − | ===NATO missile defense talks controversy===
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| − | For some years, the United States negotiated with [[Poland]] and the [[Czech Republic]] for the deployment of interceptor missiles and a radar tracking system in the two countries. Both countries' governments indicated that they would allow the deployment. The proposed American missile defence site in Central Europe is believed to be fully operational in 2015 and would be capable of covering most of Europe except part of Romania plus Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.<ref name=xinhuanet20070419>[http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-04/19/content_6001014.htm Xinhua - English<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | In April 2007, NATO's European allies called for a NATO missile defense system which would complement the American [[National Missile Defense]] system to protect Europe from missile attacks and NATO's decision-making North Atlantic Council held consultations on missile defence in the first meeting on the topic at such a senior level.<ref name=xinhuanet20070419/>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | In response, Russian president [[Vladimir Putin]] claimed that such a deployment could lead to a new arms race and could enhance the likelihood of mutual destruction. He also suggested that his country should freeze its compliance with the 1990 [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]] (CFE)—which limits military deployments across the continent—until all NATO countries had ratified the [[adapted CFE treaty]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6594379.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Russia in defence warning to US<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Secretary General [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]] said the system would not affect strategic balance or threaten Russia, as the plan is to base only 10 interceptor missiles in [[Poland]] with an associated radar in the Czech Republic.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6570533.stm BBC NEWS | Europe | Nato chief dismisses Russia fears<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
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| − |
| |
| − | On July 14, 2007, Russia notified its intention to suspend the CFE treaty, effective 150 days later.<ref> BBC NEWS, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6898690.stm "Russia suspends arms control pact"], July 14, 2007</ref><ref name=TIME>Y. ZARAKHOVICH, [http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1643566,00.html "Why Putin Pulled Out of a Key Treaty"] in ''Time'', July 14, 2007</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Future of NATO===
| |
| − | [[Image:NATO enlargement.svg|thumb|250px|{{col-begin}}{{col-2}}{{legend|darkblue|Current members}}{{legend|#2a7fff|Invited members}}{{legend|darkgreen|Promised invitation}}{{col-2}}{{legend|#80ff80|Intensified Dialogue}}{{legend|#d40000|Membership not goal}}{{legend|#918a6f|Undeclared intent}}{{col-end}}]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | NATO remains the key security structure in Europe. As such it has expansion plans to extend its security reach.
| |
| − | <!-- All commentary on potential future members belongs at Enlargement of NATO; only single sentence summaries should be added here —>
| |
| − | Potential future members include the [[Republic of Macedonia]]/[[FYROM|former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia]],<ref>In NATO official statements, the country is always referred to as the FYROM, with a footnote stating that Turkey 'recognises the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name.'</ref> which was under consideration to enter NATO in 2009. FYROM is likely to enter the alliance at some point, with [[Jane's Defence Weekly]] commenting on 16 April 2008 that resolution to the naming issue that is holding up entry is "likely by the end of this year [2008] and no later than the 2009 summit."<ref>Jim Dorschner & Radu Tudor, 'Questions remain after NATO summit,' JDW 16 April 2008, p.18</ref> At the same 2008 summit in Bucharest, the communique explicitly said that [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Ukraine]] "will become members of NATO."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Other potential candidate countries include, in South-eastern Europe, [[Montenegro]], Bosnia & Herzegovina and Serbia. Other possible, long neutral countries that might become members are [[Finland]] and [[Sweden]].
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Russia continues to oppose further expansion, seeing it as inconsistent with understandings between Soviet leader [[Mikhail Gorbachev]] and U.S. President [[George H. W. Bush]] which allowed for a peaceful [[German reunification|unification of Germany]]. NATO's expansion policy is seen by Russia as a continuation of a Cold War attempt to surround and isolate Russia.<ref>NATO Seeking to Weaken CIS by Expansion — Russian General [http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/12/01/balusaid.shtml (link)] MosNews 01.12.2005 and Ukraine moves closer to NATO membership By [[Taras Kuzio]] [http://www.jamestown.org/publications_details.php?volume_id=407&issue_id=3316&article_id=2369682 (Link)] Jamestown Foundation and Global Realignment [http://www.lrna.org/doc.4/globalre.html] and [http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/04-05-2006/79870-rice-0 Condoleezza Rice wants Russia to acknowledge USA's interests on post-Soviet space], [[Pravda]] 04.05.2006</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | NATO began in an attempt to thwart feared Communist expansionism, and despite the [[History of post-Soviet Russia|collapse of communism]] in Eastern Europe, the relationship between Russia and NATO still remains problematic.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Membership==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | There are currently 26 members within NATO.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
| |
| − | ! width=12% | Date
| |
| − | ! width=14% | Country
| |
| − | ! width=8% | Enlargement
| |
| − | ! width=55% | Notes
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | rowspan=12| April 4 1949
| |
| − | | {{BEL}} || rowspan=12 align=center|Founders ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{CAN}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{DEN}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{FRA}} || France withdrew from the integrated military command in 1966 to pursue an independent defence system. However, there are now plans for it to rejoin sometime in 2008.<ref>{{cite news
| |
| − | |url = http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0404/p06s01-woeu.html
| |
| − | |title = U.S., Europe gulf opens at NATO summit
| |
| − | |publisher = ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]''
| |
| − | |date = 2008-04-04
| |
| − | |accessdate = 2008-04-04
| |
| − | |author = Marquand, Robert
| |
| − | }}</ref>
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Iceland}} || Iceland, the sole member that does not have its own standing army, joined on the condition that it would not be expected to establish one. However, its strategic geographic position in the Atlantic made it an invaluable member. It has a [[Icelandic Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] and has recently provided troops trained in Norway for NATO peacekeeping.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{ITA}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{LUX}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Netherlands}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Norway}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Portugal}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|USA}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | rowspan=2| 18 February 1952 || {{flagcountry|Greece}} || rowspan=2 align=center |First || Greece withdrew its forces from NATO’s military command structure from 1974 to 1980 as a result of [[Greco-Turkish relations|Greco-Turkish tensions]] following the 1974 [[Turkish invasion of Cyprus]].
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Turkey}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 9 May 1955 || {{flagcountry|Germany}} || align=center| Second || Joined as [[West Germany]]; [[Saarland]] reunited with it in 1957 and the territories of [[Berlin]] and the former [[German Democratic Republic]] reunited with it on 3 October 1990.
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 30 May 1982 || {{flagcountry|Spain}} || align=center| Third ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | rowspan=3| 12 March 1999 || {{flagcountry|Czech Republic}} || rowspan=3 align=center| Fourth ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Hungary}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Poland}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | rowspan=7| 29 March 2004 || {{flagcountry|Bulgaria}} || rowspan=7 align=center| Fifth ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Estonia}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Latvia}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Lithuania}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Romania}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Slovakia}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Slovenia}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | rowspan=2| [[TBD]] April 2009 <ref name="iht">{{cite news|title=NATO wants Albania and Croatia in by 2009 summit |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/09/europe/EU-GEN-NATO-Balkans.php|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=2008-04-03 |accessdate=2008-04-09}}</ref> || {{flagcountry|Albania}} || rowspan=2 align=center| Sixth ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Croatia}} ||
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | At the NATO summit in [[Bucharest]] (April 2008) [[Albania]] and [[Croatia]] were officially invited to start accession talks with the alliance.<ref name="denial">{{cite news |title=Nato denies Georgia and Ukraine |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7328276.stm|publisher=BBC News |date=2008-04-03 |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref><ref name="balkaninsight">{{cite news|title=Croatia & Albania Invited Into NATO |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/9102/|publisher=BalkanInsight |date=2008-04-03 |accessdate=2008-04-03}}</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − |
| |
| − | == Cooperation with non-member states==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Image:NATO Partners.png|250px|thumb|
| |
| − | {{legend|#181884|NATO member states}}
| |
| − | {{legend|#8c9618|Partnership for Peace countries}}
| |
| − | {{legend|#944918|Mediterranean Dialogue countries}}]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Euro-Atlantic Partnership===
| |
| − | {{main|Partnership for Peace|Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council}}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | A double framework has been established to help further co-operation between the 26 NATO members and 23 "partner countries."
| |
| − |
| |
| − | * The '''Partnership for Peace (PfP)''' programme was established in 1994 and is based on individual bilateral relations between each partner country and NATO: each country may choose the extent of its participation. The PfP programme is considered the operational wing of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/issues/pfp/index.html The Partnership for Peace]</ref>
| |
| − | * The '''Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)''' was first established on 29 May 1997, and is a forum for regular coordination, consultation and dialogue between all 49 participants.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/issues/eapc/index.html NATO Topics: The Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The 24 partner countries are the following:
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {|
| |
| − | |- valign=top
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | * [[Post-Soviet states|Former Soviet republics]]:
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Armenia}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Azerbaijan}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Belarus}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Georgia}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Kazakhstan}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Kyrgyzstan}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Moldova}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Russia}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Tajikistan}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Turkmenistan}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Ukraine}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Uzbekistan}}
| |
| − | |
| |
| − | * Countries that (though militarily neutral) possessed capitalist economies during the Cold War:
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Austria}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Finland}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Ireland}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Malta}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Sweden}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Switzerland}}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | * Nations that (though militarily neutral) possessed socialist economies during the Cold War:
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Albania}}
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (as part of Yugoslavia)
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Croatia}} (as part of Yugoslavia)
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Montenegro}} (as part of Yugoslavia)
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|Serbia}} (as part of Yugoslavia)
| |
| − | :# {{flagcountry|MKD|name=FYROM}} (as part of Yugoslavia)
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Individual Partnership Action Plans===
| |
| − | Launched at the November 2002 Prague Summit, [[Individual Partnership Action Plan]]s (IPAPs) are open to countries that have the political will and ability to deepen their relationship with NATO.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/issues/ipap/index.html NATO Topics: Individual Partnership Action Plans<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Currently '''IPAPs''' are in implementation with the following countries:
| |
| − |
| |
| − | * {{flag|Georgia}} (29 october 2004)
| |
| − | * {{flag|Azerbaijan}} (27 May 2005)
| |
| − | * {{flag|Armenia}} (16 December 2005)
| |
| − | * {{flag|Kazakhstan}} (31 January 2006)
| |
| − | * {{flag|Moldova}} (19 May 2006)
| |
| − | * {{flag|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} (10 January 2008)
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ==Structures==
| |
| − | The NATO website divides the internal NATO organization into political structures, military structures, and agencies and organizations immediately subordinate to NATO headquarters. The main headquarters of NATO is located on Boulevard Léopold III, B-1110 BRUSSELS, which is in Haren, part of the [[City of Brussels]].<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.nato.int/|title=NATO homepage|accessdate=2006-03-12}}</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Political structure===
| |
| − | [[Image:Bush dehoopscheffer.jpg|thumb|[[Secretary General of NATO|Secretary General]] [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]] meeting [[George W. Bush]] on [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/03/20060320-1.html White House news release March 20, 2006].]]
| |
| − | Like any alliance, NATO is ultimately governed by its 26 member states. The [http://www.nato.int/docu/basictxt/treaty.htm North Atlantic Treaty] and other agreements outline how decisions are to be made within NATO. Each of the 26 members sends a delegation or mission to NATO’s headquarters in [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]].<ref>{{cite web | title = National delegations to NATO What is their role? | publisher = NATO | date = 2007-06-18 | url = http://www.nato.int/issues/national_delegations/tasks.html | accessdate = 2007-07-15 }}</ref> The senior permanent member of each delegation is known as the Permanent Representative and is generally a senior [[civil servant]] or an experienced [[ambassador]] (and holding that diplomatic rank).
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Together the Permanent Members form the [[North Atlantic Council]] (NAC), a body which meets together at least once a week and has effective political authority and powers of decision in NATO.
| |
| − | From time to time the Council also meets at higher levels involving [[Foreign Minister]]s, [[Defense Minister]]s or Heads of State or Government (HOSG); it is at these meetings that major decisions regarding NATO’s policies are generally taken. However, it is worth noting that the Council has the same authority and powers of decision-making, and its decisions have the same status and validity, at whatever level it meets. [[NATO summit]]s also form a further venue for decisions on complex issues, such as enlargement.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The meetings of the North Atlantic Council are chaired by the [[Secretary General of NATO]] and, when decisions have to be made, action is agreed upon on the basis of unanimity and common accord. There is no voting or decision by majority. Each nation represented at the Council table or on any of its subordinate committees retains complete sovereignty and responsibility for its own decisions.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The second pivotal member of each country's delegation is the Military Representative, a senior officer from each country's armed forces. Together the Military Representatives form the Military Committee (MC), a body responsible for recommending to NATO’s political authorities those measures considered necessary for the common defence of the NATO area. Its principal role is to provide direction and advice on military policy and strategy. It provides guidance on military matters to the NATO Strategic Commanders, whose representatives attend its meetings, and is responsible for the overall conduct of the military affairs of the Alliance under the authority of the Council.
| |
| − | Like the council, from time to time the Military Committee also meets at a higher level, namely at the level of Chiefs of defense, the most senior military officer in each nation's armed forces. The Defense Planning Committee excludes France, due to that country's 1966 decision to remove itself from NATO's integrated military structure.<ref>{{cite web | first = Eide | last = Espen Barth | coauthors = Frédéric Bozo | title = Should NATO play a more political role? | work = Nato Review| publisher = NATO | date = Spring 2005 | url = http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2005/issue1/english/debate.html | accessdate = 2007-07-15 }}</ref> On a practical level, this means that issues that are acceptable to most NATO members but unacceptable to France may be directed to the Defense Planning Committee for more expedient resolution. Such was the case in the lead up to [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]].<ref>{{cite web | first = Thomas | last = Fuller | title = Reaching accord, EU warns Saddam of his 'last chance' | work = International Herald Tribune | date = 2003-02-18 | url = http://www.iht.com/articles/2003/02/18/eu_ed3__1.php | accessdate = 2007-07-15 }}</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The current Chairman of the NATO Military Committee is [[Ray Henault]] of [[Canada]] (since 2005).
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The [[NATO Parliamentary Assembly]], presided by [[José Lello]], is made up of legislators from the member countries of the North Atlantic Alliance as well as 13 associate members.<ref>[http://www.nato-pa.int/Default.asp?SHORTCUT=1 NATO PA - About the NATO Parliamentary Assembly<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> It is however officially a different structure from NATO, and has as aim to join together deputies of NATO countries in order to discuss security policies.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Subordinate to the political structure are the International Staff and International Military Staff, which administer NATO programmes and carry out high-level political, military, and also civil emergency planning.<ref>[[NATO]] Handbook 2001, [http://www.nato.int/docu/handbook/2001/hb0809.htm]</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Over the years, non-governmental citizens' groups have grown up in support of NATO, broadly under the banner of the [[Atlantic Council]]/[[Atlantic Treaty Association]] movement.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ====List of officials====
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
| |
| − | |+ '''[[Secretary General of NATO|Secretaries General]]'''<ref name="secgen">[http://www.nato.int/cv/secgen.htm NATO Who's who? - Secretaries General of NATO<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 1
| |
| − | | [[General]] [[Hastings Lionel Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay|Lord Ismay]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| |
| − | | 4 April 1952–16 May 1957
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 2
| |
| − | | [[Paul-Henri Spaak]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Belgium}}
| |
| − | | 16 May 1957–21 April 1961
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 3
| |
| − | | [[Dirk Stikker]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
| |
| − | | 21 April 1961–1 August 1964
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 4
| |
| − | | [[Manlio Brosio]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Italy}}
| |
| − | | 1 August 1964–1 October 1971
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 5
| |
| − | | [[Joseph Luns]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
| |
| − | | 1 October 1971–25 June 1984
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 6
| |
| − | | [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Lord Carrington]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| |
| − | | 25 June 1984–1 July 1988
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 7
| |
| − | | [[Manfred Wörner]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Germany}}
| |
| − | | 1 July 1988–13 August 1994
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 8
| |
| − | | [[Sergio Balanzino]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Italy}}
| |
| − | | 13 August 1994–17 October 1994''
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 9
| |
| − | | [[Willy Claes]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Belgium}}
| |
| − | | 17 October 1994–20 October 1995
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 10
| |
| − | | [[Sergio Balanzino]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Italy}}
| |
| − | | 20 October 1995–5 December 1995''
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 11
| |
| − | | [[Javier Solana]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Spain}}
| |
| − | | 5 December 1995–6 October 1999
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 12
| |
| − | | [[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen|Lord Robertson of Port Ellen]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|United Kingdom}}
| |
| − | | 14 October 1999–1 January 2004
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 13
| |
| − | | [[Jaap de Hoop Scheffer]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Netherlands}}
| |
| − | | 1 January 2004–present
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | {| class="wikitable"
| |
| − | |+ '''Deputy Secretary General of NATO'''<ref name="secgen">[http://www.nato.int/cv/secgen.htm NATO Who's who? - Secretaries General of NATO<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref>
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | ! #
| |
| − | ! Name
| |
| − | ! Country
| |
| − | ! Duration
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 1
| |
| − | | [[Sergio Balanzino]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Italy}}
| |
| − | | 1994–2001
| |
| − | |-
| |
| − | | 2
| |
| − | | [[Alessandro Minuto Rizzo]]
| |
| − | | {{flagcountry|Italy}}
| |
| − | | 2001–present
| |
| − | |}
| |
| − |
| |
| − | ===Military structure===
| |
| − |
| |
| − | [[Image:Nato awacs.jpg|thumb|right|240px|NATO [[E-3 Sentry|E-3A]] flying with [[United States Air Force|US]] [[F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16s]] in a NATO exercise.]]
| |
| − |
| |
| − | NATO's military operations are directed by the [[Chairman of the Military Committee|Chairman of the NATO Military Committee]], and split into two Strategic Commands both commanded by a senior US officer assisted by a staff drawn from across NATO. The Strategic Commanders are responsible to the Military Committee for the overall direction and conduct of all Alliance military matters within their areas of command.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Before 2003 the Strategic Commanders were the [[Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (SACEUR) and the [[Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic]] (SACLANT) but the current arrangement is to separate [[command responsibility]] between [[Allied Command Transformation]] (ACT), responsible for transformation and training of NATO forces, and [[Allied Command Operations]], responsible for NATO operations world wide.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The commander of Allied Command Operations retained the title "Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)," and is based in the [[Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe]] (SHAPE) located at [[Casteau]], north of the [[Belgian]] city of [[Mons]]. This is about 80 km (50 miles) south of NATO’s political headquarters in Brussels. ACO is headed by [[SACEUR]], a US four star general with the dual-hatted role of heading [[United States European Command|US European Command]], which is headquartered in [[Stuttgart]], Germany. SHAPE was in Paris until 1966, when French president [[Charles de Gaulle]] withdrew French forces from the Atlantic Alliance. NATO's headquarters were then forced to move to Belgium, while many military units had to move.
| |
| − |
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| − | ACO includes [[Joint Force Command Brunssum]] in the Netherlands, [[Allied Joint Force Command Naples|Joint Force Command Naples]] in Italy, and [[Joint Command Lisbon]], all multinational headquarters with many nations represented. JFC Brunssum has its land component, [[Joint Force Command Brunssum#Land Component, Heidelburg|Allied Land Component Command Headquarters Heidelberg]] at [[Heidelberg]], [[Germany]], its air component at [[Allied Air Forces Central Europe|Ramstein]] in Germany, and its naval component at the [[Northwood Headquarters]] in the northwest suburbs of [[London]]. JFC Naples has its land component in Madrid, air component at Izmir, Turkey, and naval component in Naples, Italy. It also directs [[KFOR]] in Kosovo. JC Lisbon is a smaller HQ with no subordinate commands. [[Lajes Field]], in the Portuguese Azores, is an important transatlantic staging post. Directly responsible to SACEUR is the NATO Airborne Early Warning Force at [[NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen]] in Germany where a jointly funded fleet of [[E-3 Sentry]] [[AWACS]] airborne radar aircraft is located. The [[C-17]]s of the [[NATO Strategic Airlift Capability]], to be made operational in the next few years, will be based at [[Pápa]] airfield in [[Hungary]], and probably come under SACEUR's control.
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| − | [[Allied Command Transformation]] (ACT) is based in the former Allied Command Atlantic headquarters in [[Norfolk, Virginia]], [[USA]]. Allied Command Atlantic, usually known as [[SACLANT]] (Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic), after its commander, became ACT in 2003. It is headed by the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), a US four-star general or admiral with the dual-hatted role as commander [[United States Joint Forces Command|US Joint Forces Command]] (COMUSJFCOM). There is also an ACT command element located at SHAPE in Mons, Belgium.
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| − | Subordinate ACT organizations include the [[Joint Warfare Center]] (JWC) located in Stavanger, Norway (in the same site as the [[Norwegian Defence Force|Norwegian NJHQ]]); the [[Joint Force Training Center]] (JFTC) in [[Bydgoszcz]], [[Poland]]; the [[Joint Analysis and Lessons Learned Center]] (JALLC) in Monsanto, Portugal; and the [[NATO Undersea Research Centre]] (NURC),<ref>[http://www.nurc.nato.int NURC Home<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> La Spezia, Italy.
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| − |
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| − | === Organizations and Agencies ===
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| − | The NATO website lists forty-three different agencies and organizations and five project committees/offices as of 15 May 2008.<ref>NATO, [http://www.nato.int/structur/structure.htm#OA Organizations and Agencies], accessed May 2008</ref> They include:
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| − | *nine logistics bodies (including five pipeline and one medical), which include the:
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| − | **[[NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency]]
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| − | **Central European Pipeline System
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| − | **NATO Pipeline System
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| − | *five production logistics bodies, including the:
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| − | **[[NETMA|NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency]]
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| − | *four standardization bodies, including the NATO Standardization Agency
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| − | *three civil emergency planning bodies
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| − | *five Air Defense & Air Traffic Control bodies, including the:
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| − | **[[NACMA|NATO ACCS Management Agency]] (NACMA), based in Brussels, manages around a hundred persons in charge of the [[Air Control and Command System]] (ACCS) due for 2009.
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| − | **[[NATO Programming Centre]]
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| − | *one AEW body, the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Programme Management Organization
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| − | *eight communications & information systems bodies, including the:
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| − | **[[NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency]] (NC3A),<ref>[http://www.nc3a.nato.int NATO C3 Agency<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> reporting to the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Organization (NC3O). The [[SHAPE Technical Center]] (STC) in [[The Hague]] (Netherlands) merged in 1996 with the NATO Communications and Information Systems Operating and Support Agency (NACOSA) based in Brussels (Belgium), forming the NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A). The agency comprises around 650 staff, of which around 400 are located in The Hague and 250 in Brussels. It reports to the [[NATO Consultation, Command and Control Board]] (NC3B).
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| − | **[[NATO Communications and Information Systems Agency]] (NCSA),<ref>[http://www.ncsa.nato.int NATO Communication and Information Systems Agency<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> based in [[Mons]] (BEL), was established in August 2004 from the former NATO Communications and Information Systems Operating and Support Agency (NACOSA).
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| − | *one [[electronic warfare]] agency
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| − | *one meteorological body, the Military Committee Meteorological Group (MCMG)
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| − | *one oceanography body, the Military Oceanography (MILOC) Group
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| − | *the [[Research and Technology Agency]] (RTA),<ref>[http://www.rta.nato.int NATO Research & Technology Organization<!-- Bot generated title —>]</ref> reporting to the [[NATO Research and Technology Organization]] (RTO);
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| − | *four education and training bodies, including the NATO School and [[NATO Defense College]]
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| − | *five project committees and offices:
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| − | **Alliance Ground Surveillance Capability Provisional Project Office (AGS/PPO)
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| − | **Battlefield Information Collection and Exploitation System (BICES)
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| − | **NATO Continuous Acquisition and Life Cycle Support Office (CALS)
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| − | **NATO FORACS Office
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| − | **Munitions Safety Information Analysis Center (MSIAC)
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| − |
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| − | === NATO Centers of Excellence ===
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| − | NATO has a total of 17 [[Center of Excellence|Centers of Excellence]] (COEs), esentially multinational research, development, and evaluation bodies. The Organization says they "provide recognised subject matter expertise in support of transformation and interoperability, especially in the fields of doctrine and concept development and validation, training, education and exercises, as well as analysis and lessons learned."<ref>[http://www.nato.int/docu/update/2008/05-may/e0514a.html NATO opens new centre of excellence on cyber defence - Contributing to transformation]</ref>
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| − | They are funded nationally or multinationally and have individual relationships with NATO formalized through memoranda of understanding.
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| − |
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| − | NATO has nine fully accredited COEs.<ref>[http://nnec.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE Nato Centres of Excellence]</ref>
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| − | * The Center for Analysis & Simulation for the Preparation of Air Operations [http://www.caspoa.org (CASPOA) COE] in [[Taverny Air Base]], [[France]]
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| − | * The Civil - Military Cooperation [http://www.cimic-coe.org (CIMIC) COE] in [[Budel]], [[The Netherlands]]
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| − | * The Cold Weather Operations [http://www.mil.no/fol/cwo/english/start (CWO) COE] in [[Stavanger]], [[Norway]]
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| − | * The Combined Joint Operations from the Sea [http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/CJOS (CJOS) COE] in [[United States]]
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| − | * The Command and Control [http://www.c2coe.org (C2) COE] in [[Ede, Netherlands|Ede]], [[The Netherlands]]
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| − | * [[Counter-terrorism|Defense Against Terrorism]] [http://www.tmmm.tsk.mil.tr (DAT) COE] in [[Ankara]], [[Turkey]]
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| − | * The Joint Air Power Competence Center [http://www.japcc.de (JAPCC) COE] in [[Kalkar]], [[Germany]] See also: [[Intelligence Information and Knowledge Management (I2KM)|I2KM]]
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| − | * The Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation, & Nuclear Defence [http://www.jcbrncoe.army.cz (JCBRN Defence) COE] in [[Vyškov]], [[Czech Republic]]
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| − | * The [[Naval Mine]] Warfare NMW [http://www1.eguermin.org (EGUERMIN) COE] in [[Oostende]], [[Belgium]]
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| − |
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| − | and eight not fully accredited COEs:
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| − | * [[Cyber-warfare|The Cooperative Cyber Defense]] [http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/CCD (CCD) COE] in [[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]]<ref>[http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39382597,00.htm Nato creates cyber-defence command]</ref>
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| − | * [[Littoral warfare|Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters]] [http://www.coecsw.org (CSW) COE] in [[Kiel]], [[Germany]]
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| − | * [[Improvised Explosive Device|Counter Improvised Explosive Devices]] (CIED) COE in [[Spain]]
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| − | * [[Explosive Ordinance Disposal]] [http://www.mil.sk/index.php?site=eod (EOD) COE] in [[Trenčín]], [[Slovakia]]
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| − | * [[Human Intelligence]] [http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/HUMINT (HUMINT) COE] in [[Romania]]
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| − | * [[Medical]] [http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/MEDCOE (MED) COE] in [[Hungary]]
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| − | * [[Military Engineering]] [http://www.entec.org (MILENG) COE] in [[Germany]]
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| − | * [[Mountain Warfare]] [http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/TNCC/CentresofE/MW (MW) COE] in [[Slovenia]]
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| − |
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| − | ==Notes==
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| − | All links Retrieved July 7, 2008.
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| − | {{reflist|2}}
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| − |
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| − | ==References==
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| − | *Isby, David C. & Charles Kamps Jr, ''Armies of NATO's Central Front'', Jane's Publishing Company Ltd 1985. ISBN 9780710603418
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| − | *Kaplan, Lawrence S. ''NATO and the United States: the Enduring Alliance'', Twayne Publishers, 1994. ISBN 9780805779264
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| − | *Osgood, Robert E. ''NATO: The Entangling Alliance,'' University Press, Chicago, 1962. OCLC 569597
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| − |
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| − | == External links ==
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| − | All links Retrieved June 13, 2008.
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| − |
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| − | {{commons|Category:North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}
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| − | {{wikinewscat|NATO}}
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| − | * [http://www.nato.int/ NATO] including [http://www.nato.int/docu/basics.htm Basic NATO Documents]
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| − | * [http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/nato/nato01_e.html NATO: A Pledge for Peace and Progress - Canadian War Museum]
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| − | *[http://www.direct.gov.uk/Gtgl1/GuideToGovernment/InternationalBodies/InternationalBodiesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=4003090&chk=6WCZhB History of NATO – the Atlantic Alliance]—UK Government site
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| − | * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4232381.stm NATO searches for defining role]
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| − | * [http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=NAZ20070517&articleId=5677 The Globalization of Military Power: NATO Expansion] ''(CRG)''
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| − | * [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-71-1538/conflict_war/nato/ CBC Digital Archives—One for all: The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation]
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| − | * [http://www.usip.org/pubs/specialreports/sr990322.html NATO at Fifty: New Challenges, Future Uncertainties] [[U.S. Institute of Peace]] Report, March 1999
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| − | *[http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/nato/ NATO at 50]
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| − | *[http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/4303 The Impact of NATO forces in Afghanistan] An analysis of the effects of the U.S. led occupation on the political and social climate of Afghanistan.
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| − | * {{cite news | title=Will Turkey be complicit in another war against another neighbour? | publisher=[[CASMII]] | date=February 24, 2008 | url=http://www.campaigniran.org/casmii/index.php?q=node/4153}}
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| − | {{NATO}}
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| − | {{NATO summits}}
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| − | {{Cold War}}
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| − | {{War on Terrorism}}
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| − | [[category:Politics and social sciences]]
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| − | [[category:Politics]]
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| − | [[category:History]]
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| − | {{credits|218734769}}
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