NATO
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a US-oriented defence alliance that was formed on August 24, 1949 through a treaty, which was signed on April 4, 1949 by Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the UK and the USA. The basic aim of this alliance was to protect European states from the possible aggression by USSR, which after the Second World War looked determined to expand her frontiers. Later on the membership increased when Greece and Turkey joined in 1952, West Germany in 1955 and Spain in 1982. France detached itself from the military command structure in 1966. The dismemberment of the USSR in December 1991 and the emergence of new independent Republic in Europe changed the character and role of NATO. The collapse of socialism in Europe and dissolution of Soviet Union removed the threat from communist states. According to the treaty, all the member is committed to help one another in case of any military attack against one or more nations. In addition, the member countries use peaceful means to settle their disputes.
