Introduction: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is a US-oriented defense 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 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 I982. 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 NAT0. The collapse of socialism in Europe and dissolution of Soviet Union removed the threat from communist states. According to the treaty all the member are 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.

The Treaty: The treaty of NATO consists of the following 14 articles:

Article10. The parties may, by unanimous agreement, invite any other European state in a. position to further the principles of the treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area to accede to this treaty. Any state so united may become a party to the treaty by depositing its instruments of accession with the government of the United States of America, which will inform each of the parties of the deposit of each such instrument of accession.

Article 4. The parties will consult together whenever, in opinion of any of them, the territorial integrity, political independence or security of any of the parties is threatened.

Article 12: After the treaty has been in force for ten years, or at any time thereafter, the parties shall, if any of them requests, consult together for the purpose of reviewing the treaty, having regard for the factors then affecting peace and security in the North Atlantic area, including the development of universal as well as regional arrangements under the charter of the United Nations for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Article 3: In order to achieve more effectively the objectives of this treaty, the parties separately and jointly, by means of continuous and effective self-help and mutual aid, will maintain and develop their individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack.

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