A total of 12 countries from Europe, and North America forged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and now hold a total of 30 different countries. This is a list of countries and the year they became a part of NATO: Canada (1949), Croatia (2009), France (1949), Germany (1955), Greece (1952), Hungary (1999), Czech Republic (1999), Denmark (1949), Estonia (2004), Albania (2009), Belgium (1949), Bulgaria (2004), Iceland (1949), Luxembourg (1949), Montenegro (2017), Netherlands (1949), Italy (1949), Latvia (2004), Lithuania (2004), North Macedonia (2020), Norway (1949), Poland (1999), Slovakia (2004), United Kingdom (1949), Portugal (1949), Romania (2004), United States (1949), Slovenia (2004), Spain (1982), and Turkey (1952). All NATO countries follow these four basic points for the treaty to work: political and military alliance, collective defense, transatlantic link, and the 2010 strategic concept. NATO countries keep the peace by placing two groups to help run the agreement. These groups include NATO delegations and Military Representatives, but there are other committees under these main two groups to help plan and make sure the alliance functions. We as citizens of these countries continue to rely on this compromise to keep us safe during major global conflicts.

Created in 1949 by the United States, Canada, and several Western European Nations, The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed to provide collective security against the Soviet Union. NATO was the first peaceful military alliance amongst the United States that ranged outside of the Western Hemisphere. After the destruction of the Second World War, the nations of Europe found difficulties when rebuilding the European economy and security. Following this war, European countries required an immense influx of aid to help the war-torn landscapes, re-establish industries, and produce food. The United States viewed an economically strong, rearmed, and integrated Europe as vital to the prevention of communist expansion across the continent. As a result, Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a program of large-scale aid to Europe, this was soon followed by the creation of the origin of NATO.

Since 1949, NATO has stood strong and continues to keep the citizens of these member countries safe. NATO was formed after world war 2 to keep the peace, but with the conflict in Ukraine, people are unsure what NATO plans to do with Russia. Especially if Putin decides to further expand, or reunite the Soviet Union. The question is will NATO make the right decision? Our future rests in their hands.