A Brief History, of the North Atlantic, Treaty Organization (NATO).<br />'The Independent' reports that the North Atlantic Treaty <br />Organization (NATO) is a political and military alliance <br />between North American and European nations.<br />It was forged after the second World War<br />as a means to prevent future bloodshed <br />and conflict between nations. .<br />On March 4, 1947, Britain and France signed the <br />Treaty of Dunkirk, which was meant to prevent a future <br />military threat from Germany or the Soviet Union.<br />On March 4, 1947, Britain and France signed the <br />Treaty of Dunkirk, which was meant to prevent a future <br />military threat from Germany or the Soviet Union.<br />Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg <br />joined shortly after.<br />The growing alliance <br />was expanded to include the U.S., Canada, <br />Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.<br />The growing alliance <br />was expanded to include the U.S., Canada, <br />Portugal, Italy, Norway, Denmark and Iceland.<br />On April 4, 1949, those nations signed the <br />North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to come to the aid of any fellow signatory under attack by foreign power. .<br />On April 4, 1949, those nations signed the <br />North Atlantic Treaty agreeing to come to the aid of any fellow signatory under attack by foreign power. .<br />After the USSR collapsed in 1989, a number <br />of former Soviet states also joined NATO.<br />In 1999, the Czech Republic, <br />Hungary and Poland became the first <br />former Soviet states to join the alliance.<br />In 2004, Bulgaria, Estonia, <br />Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia <br />and Slovenia also joined NATO. .<br />In 2020, North Macedonia <br />became the most recent <br />addition to the alliance.<br />Jens Stoltenberg is the current <br />secretary general of the organization <br />which is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.<br />Jens Stoltenberg is the current <br />secretary general of the organization <br />which is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium
