The North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Abstract

Abstract This chapter focuses on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which is a political-military alliance that currently includes thirty Allied Nations. NATO Allies deal with a wide range of peace and security issues. NATO also cooperates with a wide range of partners in the broader Euro–Atlantic neighbourhood and across the globe. Its foundational document is the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty. The chapter then reviews the Treaty’s principal provisions to illustrate the general international legal framework in which NATO operates, the scope of its activities, and how and where it places the emphasis in its day-to-day work. It describes NATO’s role as a global security actor, reviewing NATO’s mission and mandate, its institutional structure, and its current priorities.