by Matthew Adams

Created on: December 10, 2010

Nato is the acronym for North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This is a North American and European defense initiative, which was originally established in 1949 between west Europe and the USA as a Cold War alliance. However, since the demise of the USSR Nato has had to reconsider its policies and defense plans.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was first formed in 1949 with the establishment of the Atlantic Treaty in Washington. With this, the first members of Nato included: Belgium, USA, UK, France, Iceland, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Norway, Holland, and Luxembourg. In truth, most of these member states could not provide a great military contribution, and the USA made comfortably the largest military contribution, and then the likes of the UK.

Overall, Nato was first established in the Cold War, and so it was primarily a Cold War military alliance between western Europe and North America. The USSR were now testing their own nuclear weapons, and the prospect of an expensive arms race was looming. Equally, Nato was a response to Soviet military dominance in eastern Europe, and US troops were still required in western Europe.

Therefore, as the Cold War escalated in Korea Nato would be given its first opportunity to provide genuine military assistance. As the South Koreans were quickly pushed back by North Korean armies, it became clear that if Nato did not intervene then the South Koreans would likely be defeated. As such, with UN support, Nato joined the war in Korea.

Therefore, Nato forces in Korea included a number of armies from the various Nato members. The USA provided about half of the Nato coalition troops, then the rest of Nato including UK and other Commonwealth armies not affiliated with Nato. As such, with Nato support the South Koreans began to push the North Koreans back to the 38th parallel. Here, the Korean war remained and a cease-fire agreed to in 1953.

Since then Nato has gradually expanded. With the collapse of Communism in Europe, new Nato enlargement began to include various countries of the former eastern bloc. The united Germany also joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Likewise, since the Cold War Nato has largely been involved in the Balkans. Here, it has been involved in the Kosovo War. In addition to this, Nato have provided the military support for arms embargo and economic sanctions with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

So, today Nato is as large as it has ever been. While questions have been raised as to the future of Nato since the demise of Communism, it seems that Nato will remain a viable military alliance given the rise of terrorism.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Adams.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.