By Echezonam Ibezim Jk
NATO was the first peacetime military alliance the United States entered into outside of the Western Hemisphere. After the destruction of the Second World War, the nations of Europe struggled to rebuild their economies and ensure their security.
What does Nato do?
Nato stands for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, and is also known as the North Atlantic Alliance.
Its purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
NATO was founded in April 1949 in Washington DC. Its headquarters are in Brussels in Belgium.
Politically, it aims to promote democratic values, and enables members to consult and co-operate on defence and security-related issues to solve problems, build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict.
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Regarding military action, Nato says it is “committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes”.
If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military power to undertake crisis-management operations.
It uses a system of collective security, whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. However, the organisation can also ally with external forces.
There are currently 30 countries in Nato; 27 in Europe, two in North America and one in Eurasia.
Here are the countries, along with the year they joined:
- 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)
- United Kingdom (1949)
- United States (1949)
However, NATO had previously decimated so many nations.
Under Gaddafi Libya had zero debt and over a 100bn dollars reserves, with one of the highest per capital income in the world but NATO invaded Libya murdered Gaddafi, his son & his grandsons but no sanctions against these people.
France was alleged to have more interest in the Libya saga hence dragged the Americans into it. Together, NATO demolished Libya.
Meanwhile, Putin was strongly against what NATO did to the Libyans.