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NATO

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, otherwise known as NATO, is a mutual defense alliance between several North American and European states. It was established in 1949 upon the formation of the North Atlantic Treaty. Today, it is one of the most important international organizations in the world, primarily safeguarding the freedom and security of its member nations. However, it initially began after World War II ended and the fear of the spread of Communism loomed.

The aftermath of World War II consisted of many devastating events, including the divide of Europe. As soon as World War II ended in 1945, conflict between Western nations and Communist Eastern nations began. Western nations included the United States, France, and …show more content…
Their fears became a reality when the Soviet Union sponsored a coup that overthrew the existing democratic government of Czechoslovakia and established a Communist government. Instantaneously, discussions were held over forming a joint security agreement between the United States and its European allies. In 1949, discussions finally concluded as twelve countries of North America and Western Europe gathered to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which essentially established an agreement that a military attack against any of the twelve nations who signed the treaty would be considered an attack against all of them. This organization, known as NATO, was the foundation of Western nations’ buttress against the Soviet Union for the next four …show more content…
This did not prevent the organization from achieving their ultimate goal, however. Overall, NATO’s expansion over the last few decades has helped enhance the security and cooperation between many European nations, provided a forum in which views on political and security issues could be exchanged, and guaranteed freedom and security for its 28 member

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