NATO

OrganizationIntroduction

NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO:NorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization;FrenchOTAN:l'OrganisationduTraitédel'AtlantiqueNord),referredtoasNATOorNATO,isAninternationalmilitarygrouporganizationestablishedbyNorthAmericaandEuropeancountriestoachievedefensecooperation.

NATOhasalargenumberofnuclearweaponsandconventionalforces,andisanimportantmilitaryforceintheWest.ThisisasignofthemilitaryrealizationofthestrategicallianceofthecapitalistcampafterWorldWarII,theextensionanddevelopmentoftheMarshallPlaninthemilitaryfield,enablingtheUnitedStatestocontroltheEuropeanUnion'sdefensesystem,andasignoftheU.S.'sleadershipasaworldsuperpower.

TheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganizationNATOwasoncecalledtheNorthAtlanticAllianceorNorthAtlanticGroup.Thehighestdecision-makingbodyofNATOistheNATOCouncil.Thecounciliscomposedofheadsofstateandgovernmentofthememberstates,foreignministers,anddefenseministers.Thepermanentcounciliscomposedofambassadorsofallmemberstates.HeadquarteredinBrussels.GreeceandTurkeyjoinedtheorganizationin1952,andtheFederalRepublicofGermanyandSpainin1955and1982,respectively.

Historicalevolution

Theagreementwasestablished

• In1949,NATOsignedanagreementinWashington,theUnitedStates.

• OnApril4,1949,the12foundingmemberstatesoftheUnitedStates,Canada,theUnitedKingdom,France,Italy,theNetherlands,Belgium,Luxembourg,Portugal,Denmark,NorwayandIcelandTheNorthAtlanticTreatywassignedinWashington,DC,anditwasdecidedtoestablishtheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization.OnAugust24ofthesameyear,thecountriescompletedtheratificationproceduresandtheorganizationwasformallyestablished.

• GreeceandTurkeyformallyjoinedtheorganizationonFebruary18,1952,theFederalRepublicofGermanyonMay6,1955,andSpainin1982.AsoftheendoftheColdWar,therewere16memberstates.

TheUS-SovietColdWar

TheSovietUnion,Hungary,Czechoslovakia,Poland,Bulgaria,Romania,AlbaniaandGDRsignedonMay14,1955TheWarsawTreatybegan,andtheColdWarhostilitiesbetweenthetwosidesbegan.

DuringtheColdWar,thestrategicgoaloftheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganizationwasmainlytopreventtheWarsawPact’slarge-scalemilitaryinvasion.Therefore,militaryissueshavebecomethemainconsiderationinthedesignofNATO’ssecuritystrategy.35yearslater(1990),theGDRbrokeawayfromtheWarsawPactandformallyjoinedtheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganizationinthenameofGermany.

ThefirstNATOmilitaryoperationaftertheColdWarwastheinterventionoftheconflictintheformerYugoslaviafromJune1993toApril1999.

Relationshipeasing

Inthe1990s,withthedissolutionoftheWarsawPact,thedrasticchangesinEasternEuropeandthedisintegrationoftheSovietUnion,thepoliticalandsecuritysituationontheEuropeancontinenthasundergonedrasticchanges.NATO’sfunctionhasbeentransformedintoapoliticalandmilitaryorganization,andtheissuesithastofacehavealsospreadfrompastmilitarythreatstoglobalterrorism,energysecurity,globalwarming,diseases,cyberattacks,andtheproliferationofweaponsofmassdestruction.

InJuly1990,the11thNATOSummitannouncedtheendoftheColdWarinLondon.

InDecember1991,NATOdecidedtoestablishaNorthAtlanticCooperationCommitteewithsomeCentralandEasternEuropeancountriesattheRomeSummit.

InDecember1991,NATOpioneeredtheestablishmentoftheNorthAtlanticCooperationCommitteecomposedofNATOcountries,theformerWarsawPactcountries,theCommonwealthofIndependentStatesandtheBalticStates.

Since1992,PolandandotherEasternEuropeancountrieshavesuccessivelymaderequeststojoinNATO.Inthesameyear,NATOapprovedaprinciplethatalloweditstroopstoleavetheterritoryofmemberstatestoparticipateinpeacekeepingoperationselsewhere.Attheendofthatyear,NATOdecidedtousemilitaryforcetointerveneintheYugoslavcrisis.

InJanuary1994,theNATOBrusselssummitapprovedtheestablishmentofa"peacepartnership"planwithCentralandEasternEuropeancountriesandRussia,andbegantosendpeacekeepingtroopstoBosniaandHerzegovinainDecember.

InSeptember1996,NATOannouncedthe"EasternExpansionProgramResearchReport."

InMay1997,theEuro-AtlanticPartnershipCouncil,whichreplacedtheNorthAtlanticCooperationCouncilandaimedtostrengthenthesecurityrelationsbetweenNATOandnon-NATOmembersinEuropeandEurasia,wasformallyestablished.

InJuly1997,theMadridsummitdecidedtoadmitPoland,theCzechRepublicandHungarytoNATOinthefirstbatch.

Thepurposeoftheorganizationistoimplementcollectivedefensebythecontractingstates.Anycontractingstatesmustprovideassistance,includingtheuseofforce,inwarswithothernations.AfterthedissolutionoftheWarsawPact,NATOsoughttoexpanditsmission,suchasmaintainingpeaceandpromotingregionalstabilitythroughdialogue.

Membershipexpansion

• OnSeptember24,1990,GDRofficiallywithdrewfromtheWarsawPact.

• OnOctober3,1990,theGDRwasofficiallymergedintotheFederalRepublicofGermany,amemberofNATO,andthetwoGermanyswereunified.

• In1999,Hungary,Poland,andtheCzechRepublicwereacceptedasnewmembersofNATO,andthenumberofmemberstatesincreasedto19.

FromApril23to25ofthesameyear,theheadsofstateandgovernmentofthe19NATOmemberstatesandthe"PartnershipforPeace"heldasummitinWashingtontocelebrateNATO50thanniversaryoffounding.RussiaandBelarusrefusedtoattendthemeetingbecausetheyprotestedagainstNATO'sbombingofYugoslavia.ThemeetingdiscussedthesituationinKosovo,adoptedandissuedthe"StatementonKosovo","WashingtonDeclaration","NATOStrategicConcept"andotherdocuments.

OnOctober4,2001,NATOinvokedArticle5oftheNATOCharterforthefirsttime,statingthattheattacksonSeptember11"shouldberegardedasanattackonallcontractingstates."

InJune2003,themeetingofdefenseministersofNATOmemberstatesdecidedtoimproveNATO’sresponsivenessbystreamliningitsmilitarycommandstructure.Accordingtotheplan,NATO’sfuturemilitarycommandsystemisdividedintothreelevels:strategiccommand,theatercommand,andtacticalcommand.NATO’scurrent20militarycommandstructureswillbereducedto11inthefuture.Atthestrategiclevel,NATOEuropeanAlliedForcesCommandandAtlanticAlliedForcesCommandwillbemergedintoAlliedCombatCommand,whichwillbeNATO's"only"highestmilitaryoperationscommand,headquarteredinMons,Belgium.

Inaddition,NATOwillestablishafunctionalAlliedReformCommandtopromoteandsupervisemilitaryreform.Thegoalistostrengthentraining,improvemilitarycapabilities,testanddevelopmilitaryprinciples,andevaluatenewconceptsthroughexperiments.TheheadquartersofthecommandislocatedinNorfolk,Virginia,USA.Atthetheaterlevel,theexistingfivetheaterheadquarterswillbestreamlinedintotwopermanentcoalitionheadquarters,directlyunderthecommandoftheAlliedForces.OneofthetwotheaterheadquartersislocatedinBrunson,theNetherlands,andtheotherislocatedinNaples,Italy.Inaddition,a"smart"permanentcoalitionheadquarterswasestablishedinLisbon,thecapitalofPortugal,whichisonlyresponsibleformaritimedeploymenttasks.Atthetacticallevel,theexisting13lower-levelcombatcommandswillbereducedtosix.TheyaredistributedinGermany,Britain,Spain,Turkeyandothercountries,andareunderthetwopermanentcoalitioncommands.

InAugust2003,NATOenteredAfghanistanandstarteditsfirstoperationoutsideEurope.NATOparticipatedinthetrainingofmilitarypoliceinIraq.

OnSeptember1,2003,thecommanderoftheNATOEuropeanAlliedSupremeCommandofficiallychangeditsnametotheNATOAlliedMilitaryOperationsCommand,whichisfullyresponsibleforthecommandandcoordinationofallNATOmilitaryoperations.ItshighestmilitarycommanderisKraDoc,tookofficeinDecember2006.

Eastwardexpansionagain

• OnMarch29,2004,theNATOPragueSummitreachedthesecondwaveofeastwardexpansiondecisionsanddecidedtoacceptEstonia,Latvia,ThesevencountriesofLithuania,Slovakia,Slovenia,Romania,andBulgariaformallysubmittedtheirrespectivelegaltextsforjoiningNATO,thusbecomingnewmembersofNATO,expandingNATOmemberstatesfrom19to26atthebeginningofthe21stcentury.ThisisthelargestexpansionofNATOsinceitsestablishmentin1949.

• OnApril1,2009,CroatiaandAlbaniaformallyjoinedNATO,increasingthenumberofmemberstatesto28.

• OnJune5,2017,Montenegroofficiallybecamethe29thmemberofNATO.

• OnMarch27,2020,NorthMacedoniaofficiallybecamethe30thmemberofNATO.

Militarycooperation

Inrecentyears,NATOplanstoestablishmissileinterceptionsystemsinPolandandtheCzechRepublic.Russiaclaimsthatthisdeploymentmayleadtoanewarmsraceandincreasethepossibilityofmutualdestruction.

OnSeptember17,2009,U.S.PresidentBarackObamaannouncedthatlong-rangemissileinterceptionsystemsinPolandandtheCzechRepublicwouldnolongerbecarriedout.Instead,Aegisshipsusedtointerceptshort-rangeandmedium-rangemissileswouldbedeployedinstead.ThenewlyappointedSecretary-GeneralofNATOcalledforclearcooperationbetweenNATOandRussiainthemissiledefensesystem.

Since2015,NATO’s“NoblePartner”jointmilitaryexerciseshavebeenheldonceayearinGeorgia.

OnJuly8,2016,theNATOsummitwasheldinWarsaw,thecapitalofPoland.ThemeetingwilldiscussaresolutionincludingNATOsendingfourbattalionsoftroopstoPolandandtheBalticSea.

InJanuary2017,theUSMarineCorpsenteredNorwayforthefirsttimefortraining.OnNovember8,2017,theNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganizationheldameetingofdefenseministersatitsheadquartersinBrussels,thecapitalofBelgium,andagreedtoestablish"AtlanticCommand"and"RegionalCommand".ThisisthefirsttimeNATOhasaddedamilitarycommandunitinmorethan20years.

OnJune7,2018,NATOSecretary-GeneralStoltenbergannouncedthatNATOwillestablishtwoadditionalheadquartersintheUnitedStatesandGermany,andatthesametimeincrease1,200militarypersonnel.OnJune26,NATOannouncedthe"JointAirPowerStrategy",whichwasthefirstAirForcestrategydocumentsinceitsestablishment.

InJuly2018,the13-nationNATOspecialoperationsforcesheadedbytheUnitedStatesheldajointspecialoperationsmilitaryexercisecode-named"TroyFootprint"intheBalticSea,coveringalmostallareasofland,seaandair.

Internalinstitutions

Purpose

MemberstatesworktogetherincollectivedefenseandmaintainingpeaceandsecuritytopromotestabilityandprosperityintheNorthAtlanticregion.

ThehonorarychairmanoftheNorthAtlanticCouncilisalternatedbytheforeignministersofthememberstatesforaone-yearterm.ThecurrentChairmanoftheMilitaryCouncil,KnudBartels(KnudBartels,Danish).ThecurrentsupremecommanderoftheEuropeanAlliedForcesPhilipM.Breedlove(PhilipM.Breedlove,American),tookofficeonMay3,2000.

Secretary-General

SinceitsestablishmentonApril4,1949,NATOhashad13secretary-generals.

JensStoltenberg(JensStoltenberg).BorninOslo,thecapitalofNorway,onMarch16,1959,hegraduatedfromtheUniversityofOslowithamaster'sdegreeineconomics,aNorwegianeconomist,leaderoftheNorwegianLabourPartyandtheformerprimeministeroftheKingdomofNorway.Attheageof26,hewasthechairmanoftheYouthLeagueoftheLaborParty.Since1990,hehasheldimportantpositionsinthegovernment,parliamentandtheLabourParty.Internally,weadvocatewelfareandsocialfairness,pragmaticeconomicdevelopmentandpoliticalreform.AdvocateandpromotemultilateralismundertheframeworkoftheUnitedNationsindiplomacy.HeservedasPrimeMinisterofNorwaytwicein2000and2005,andhissecondtermofPrimeMinisterlasteduntil2013.

OnOctober1,2014,hesucceededAnnosFoggRasmussenasthe13thSecretary-GeneralofNATO.

Subsidiaries

InternationalSecretariat

TheInternationalSecretariatisresponsibleforthepreparationsfortheNATOmeeting.InadditiontoleadingtheSecretariat,theSecretary-GeneralisalsothechairmanoftheCouncilofMinisters,theDefensePlanningCommission,theNuclearDefenseCommissionandtheNuclearPlanningGroup.

MilitaryCommittee

MilitaryCommittee(MilitaryCommittee)isthehighestmilitarycommandorganizationofNATO.composition.ItmeetsthreetimesayearandisresponsibleformakingrecommendationstotheCouncilofMinistersandtheDefensePlanningCommitteeonNATOdefenseissues,andimplementingleadershipofthemaintheatercommandsunderit.ThechairmanoftheMilitaryCommissioniselectedbythemembersoftheMilitaryCommissionforatermof3years.Itsdailyaffairsarehandledbyacommitteeofmilitaryrepresentativescomposedofpermanentmilitaryrepresentativesappointedbythechiefsofgeneralstaffofeachcountry.UndertheMilitaryCommission,theInternationalMilitaryStaffHeadquartersisresponsibleforimplementingthepoliciesandplansoftheMilitaryCommission.Inaddition,therearethreemilitarycommandinstitutions:theSupremeCommandoftheEuropeanAlliedForces,theSupremeCommandoftheAtlanticAlliedForces,andtheUnitedStates-CanadaRegionalPlanningGroup.

NorthAtlanticAssembly

NATOParliamentaryAssembly.Thisisaninter-parliamentaryorganizationbetweenNATO’s26memberstatesand17associatedcountries.MembersofParliamentaredesignatedbynationalparliaments,andthenumberofseatsisdistributedinproportiontothecountry’spopulation.Thepurposeoftheparliamentistoencouragecooperationbetweennationalparliaments,closethelinksbetweennationalparliamentsandNATOinstitutions,andpromotetherealizationofthegoalsoftheNorthAtlanticTreaty.Theparliamentconvenestwiceayearinplenarysessions.

NorthAtlanticCouncil

TheNorthAtlanticCouncil,alsoknownastheNATOCouncil,istheCouncilofMinisters,thehighestdecision-makingbody.Itiscomposedofforeignministersofmemberstates,andwhennecessary,defenseministers,financeministersandevenheadsofgovernmentcanalsoattendthemeeting.Tworegularmeetingsayear.DuringtheadjournmentoftheCouncilofMinisters,theambassador-levelpermanentrepresentativesofthememberstatesareresponsibleforthedailyworkoftheCouncil.

DefencePlanningCommittee(disbandedin2010)

TheDefensePlanningCommittee(DefencePlanningCommittee)iscomposedofmemberstatesparticipatingintheNATODefenseIntegratedCommandSystemThecompositionofthedefenseministers(FrancewithdrewfromthemilitaryintegrationagencyonJuly1,1966,andparticipatedinthedefenseministers’meetingandmilitarycommitteemeetingssinceDecember1995,butstilldidnotparticipateinthemilitaryintegrationagency.SpainjoinedNATOin1982,butdidnotparticipateinthemilitaryIntegrationagency.OnDecember2,1997,attheNATOAutumnCouncil,SpainannounceditsreturntoNATO’smilitaryintegrationagencyduetotheassuranceofitsairsuperiorityintheStraitofGibraltar.Icelanddoesnotparticipateintheabove-mentionedcommitteebecauseitdoesnothaveanarmy,anditmeetstwiceayear.,ResponsibleforreviewingNATOdefensepoliciesandmilitaryplans.In1966,NATOsetupanuclearplanninggroup(NuclearPlanningGroup,FranceandBingdidnotparticipate)specificallyresponsiblefornucleardefensepolicies.In1968,thedefenseministersofEuropeanNATOmemberstatesexceptFranceandIceformedaninformalNATO"EuropeanGroup".

In2010,NATOdisbandedtheDefensePlanningCommitteeandtransferreditsfunctionofoverseeingtheexecutionofdefenseplanstotheCouncil.

Regularactivities

Summit

After5expansions,theNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization(NATO)hasformedtheworld’sstrongestwith29memberstatesLargemilitarygroupshavetheirbordersdirectlyborderingRussianterritory.ThefollowingisabriefintroductionofNATOsummits:

InDecember1957,thefirstsummitwasheldinParis.Themeetingreiterateditspositiononpeaceandsecurity,emphasizedthenecessityofestablishinganucleararsenal,anddecidedtohandovermedium-rangemissilestotheSupremeCommanderofNATOinEurope.

InJune1974,thesecondsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.TheAtlanticDeclarationwassignedatthemeeting,reiteratingtheobligationsofallmemberstatestotheestablishmentoftheconvention.

InMay1975,the3rdsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.Themeetingreaffirmedtheobligationofcollectivedefenseandmutualassistanceindealingwitheconomicproblems.

InMay1977,the4thsummitmeetingwasheldinLondon.Themeetingrecognizedthathumanrightsarethebasicprincipleofcooperationbetweencountries,andbegantostudythelong-termtrendofEast-Westrelationsandtheneedfordefense.

InMay1978,thefifthsummitmeetingwasheldinWashington.ThemeetingfocusedondiscussingtherelationshipbetweenNATOandtheWarsawPactandmakingdecisionsonNATO'slong-termdefenseplan.

InJune1982,the6thsummitmeetingwasheldinBonn.Themeetingdiscussedthedeploymentofnewintermediate-rangenuclearmissilesinEuropeandnegotiationswiththeSovietUnion.TheBonnDeclarationwasadopted,emphasizingthedualstrategyofbothdefenseanddialogue.

InNovember1985,the7thsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.U.S.PresidentReaganinformedthealliesabouthismeetingwithSovietPresidentGorbachevinGeneva.

InMarch1988,the8thsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.ThemeetingreiterateditsadherencetoNATO’sdeterrentstrategy,maintainingadialoguewiththeSovietUnionandmaintainingastrongdefense.Afterthemeeting,astatemententitled"Advancingtowardthegoalofconventionalweaponscontrol"wasissued.

InMay1989,the9thsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.ThemeetingpassedtwodocumentsontheoverallplanfordefenseandarmscontrolpoliciesandapoliticalstatementdealingwithEast-Westrelations,andformallyaffirmedthenewEuropeanconventionaldisarmamentproposalsputforwardbyUSPresidentGeorgeBushatthemeeting.

InDecember1989,the10thsummitmeetingwasheldinBrussels.ThemeetingconsideredthatNATOandtheWarsawPactareboth"pillarsforstabilizingEurope"andemphasizedthattheWestmustcoordinateitspositionundertherapidlychangingsituationtomaintainthestatusquoofEurope'sborders.

InJuly1990,the11thsummitmeetingwasheldinLondon.The"LondonDeclaration"adoptedatthemeetingemphasizedthatNATOwillcontinuetomaintainanappropriatenumberofnuclearandconventionalweapons,andatthesametimeexpressed"peaceandfriendship"totheSovietUnionandEasternEuropeancountries.

InNovember1991,the12thNATOSummitwasheldinRome.Themeetingadoptedthe"NATONewStrategicConcept","RomeDeclarationonPeaceandCooperation","StatementontheSovietUnion"andotherdocumentsandthedecisiontoimposeeconomicsanctionsonYugoslavia.

InJanuary1994,the13thBrusselsConferencepassedtheplanproposedbytheUnitedStatestoestablisha"partnershipforpeace"withtheformerWarsawPactmemberstatesandotherEuropeancountries.ThisisanimportantstrategicstepforNATO'seastwardexpansion.

InJuly1997,the14thMadridConferenceformallydecidedtoadmitPoland,HungaryandtheCzechRepublicintoNATOinthefirstbatch,andNATO’seastwardexpansionplanwasofficiallylaunched.

InApril1999,the15thmeetingwasheldinWashington.Whilecelebratingthe50thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofNATO,anewstrategyforthe21stcenturywasadopted.

InNovember2002,the16thsummitmeetingwasheldinPrague,thecapitaloftheCzechRepublic.ThemeetingdecidedtoinviteEstonia,Latvia,Lithuania,Slovakia,Slovenia,RomaniaandBulgariatojoinNATO;decidedtostrengthendefensecapabilitiesandreformNATO’smilitaryinstitutions,andheldconsultationsoninternationalcounter-terrorismandIraq.

InJune2004,the17thsummitmeetingwasheldinIstanbul,Turkey.ItwasNATO'sfirstsummitafterachievinganewroundofeastwardexpansioninMarch2004.ThemeetingwillmainlydiscussimportantcontentsuchasNATO'sstrategicadjustment,thenextroundofexpansion,andthedevelopmentofnewrelationshipswiththirdparties.

InFebruary2005,theNATOsummitwasheldattheNATOheadquartersinBrussels.StrengtheningthecooperationofallieswithintheNATOframework,especiallycooperationontheissuesofIraqandAfghanistan,isanimportanttopicoftheNATOsummit..

InNovember2006,theNATOSummitwasheldinRiga,thecapitalofLatvia.Themeetingpassedthe"RigaSummitStatement",NATO'sfuturetransformationstrategyandotherdocuments,andannouncedthatNATO'srapidresponseforcehascompletedtheestablishmentofthework.NATO'srapidreactionforceiscomposedofelitetroopsofthethreemajorarmsofland,sea,andair.AccordingtotheNATOplan,thisrapidreactionforcecanbedeployedanywhereintheworldwithin5days,andcanperformvariousmissionsfor30consecutivedayswithasinglesupply.Thesemissionsincludejointdefense,humanitarianassistance,andservingasapioneertoopenchannelsforfollow-uptroops.

InApril2008,theNATOsummitwasheldinBucharest,thecapitalofRomania.TheexpansionofNATOandtheissueofAfghanistanareimportanttopicsofthesummit.TheleadersofthememberstatesdecidedtoformallyinviteCroatiaandAlbaniatojoinNATO,butMacedonia’sapplicationformembershipwastemporarilyshelved,andtheapplicationsofUkraineandGeorgiatojoinNATO’s"MemberActionPlan"werealsonotaccepted.ThemeetingdecidedtoinviteMontenegroandBosniaandHerzegovinatojoinNATO's"strengtheneddialoguemechanism"establishedspecificallyforcountriesthatarecommittedtojoiningthetreaty.Themeetingissuedastatement,promisingtojointlyassumelong-termresponsibilityontheAfghanistanissue.

April3-4,2009,theNATOMemberStatesSummitwasheldinStrasbourg,FranceandBaden-BadenandKyleinGermanytocelebratethe60thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofNATO.OfficiallywelcomeFrance'sreturntotheNATOcommandsystem.ThemeetingdecidedtoappointDanishPrimeMinisterRasmussenasthenextSecretary-GeneralofNATO,andatthesametimereachedagreementonNATO'simplementationofanewstrategyinAfghanistanandthebeginningofresearchandformulationofNATO'snewstrategicconcept.NATOhopestoestablisha"constructive"relationshipwithRussia.

NATO’seastwardexpansion

TheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganizationisamilitaryandpoliticalorganizationestablishedbytheUnitedStatestocontaintheSovietUnionandmaintainitsdominantpositioninEuropeafterWorldWarII.organization.DuringtheColdWar,hisoppositionwastheWarsawPactformedbytheSovietUnionandEasternEuropeancountries.Afterthe1990s,theSovietUniondisintegratedandthe"WarsawPact"wasdisbanded.NATOnolongerexists.NATOshoulddisintegrateimmediately.WhyisNATOexpandingeastward?

ThemainreasonisthattheUnitedStateswantstocontinuetocontrolEurope.OneofthepurposesofNATO'screationistocontrolEurope.Europehasbeentheeconomiccenteroftheworldforcenturies.Asasuperpower,theUnitedStatesattemptstoplayaleadingroleintheworld.

ThesecondreasonisthatWesternEuropeancountriesrelyonNATO,thatis,relyontheUnitedStatestoensuretheirowninterests.WesternEuropeancountrieshavelongrealizedthatalthoughthesecurityproblemsinEuropearenotassevereastheyusedtobe,eveniftheconflictinBosniaandHerzegovinadoesnotinvolvetheUnitedStates,Europecannotsolveitbyitself.AlthoughRussiadoesnotpresentabigthreat,itdoesnotmeanthatitwillnotmakeacomebackinthefuture,andEuropewillonceagainbeshroudedintheshadowofRussia.Therefore,therealisticpathcanonlybetorecognizethedominantpositionoftheUnitedStatesandmaintainandexpandNATO.

Organizingactivities

Inthe1990s,withthedisintegrationoftheWarsawPactandtheendoftheColdWar,NATOquicklyadjusteditsstrategyandreplacedthe“frontierdefensewithacomprehensivecrisisresponsestrategy”."Strategy",throughtheeastwardexpansionofNATOandtheimplementationofthe"PartnershipforPeacePlan",itstrivestoexpanditsinfluencetoCentralandEasternEuropeandtheformerSovietUnion,anditisplayinganincreasinglyimportantroleinEuropeansecurityaffairs.

OnMay28-29,1991,theNATODefenseMinisters’Meetingdecidedtoreplacethe“frontierdefensestrategy”withthe“all-roundcrisisresponsestrategy”;greatlystreamlinetheforceandformaseven-memberarmy.Themaindefenseforce,a70,000rapidreactionforceandareserveforcecomposedofthearmedforcesofvariousmemberstatesconstituteNATO’snewthree-tierdefensesystem.

OnNovember7-8,NATOheldasummitinRomeandpassedthe"NATONewStrategicConcept",makingmajoradjustmentstoNATO’smilitarystrategy,abandoningthe"forwarddefensestrategy",andmainlydealingwiththeSovietUnioninthepast.Turnto"preventingconflictsandhandlingcrises";reducethesizeoftheforcetoimproveitsflexibility,mobilityandrapidresponsecapabilities;adjustthe"flexibleresponsestrategy"toreducenuclearweapons,butitwillstillmaintainacertainnucleardeterrent.Themeetingdecidedtoestablisha"NorthAtlanticCooperationCommittee",invitingtheSovietUnion,Poland,Hungary,CzechRepublic,Poland,RomaniaandthenewlyindependentBalticStatestoparticipateinthefirstspecialforeignministersmeetingtobeheldinDecembertodeterminethepoliticalandsecurityconsultationsbetweenthetwosides.Andpartnership.

OnDecember9,NATOheldameetingof16foreignministers,andthenextdayitheldtheNorthAtlanticCooperationCommitteewiththeforeignministersoftheformerWarsawPactcountriesBulgaria,Czechoslovakia,Hungary,Poland,Romania,andLatvia,LithuaniaandEstonia.(Hereinafterreferredtoas"NorthernCooperationCouncil")thefirstmeeting.TheNorthCooperationCouncilissuedthe"StatementonDialogue,PartnershipandCooperation,"anddecidedtostrengthenthecontactmechanismbetweenNATOandtheformerWarsawPactmemberstates.Itholdsanannualmeetingofforeignministersofthememberstatesandanambassadorialmeetingeverytwomonths.Thestatementalsodeterminedthescopeofcooperationbetweenthetwosides,includingdefenseplanning,armscontrol,militaryconversion,scienceandtechnology,andenvironmentalprotection.

OnJune10-11,1993,theNATOCouncilofMinistersSpringMeetingandtheNATOForeignMinistersMeetingwereheldinAthensoneafteranother.TheNATOCouncilofMinistersissuedastatementstatingthatNATOiswillingtoprovideairprotectiontotheUNpeacekeepingforceinBosniaandHerzegovina.

OnJanuary10-11,1994,the16NATOcountriesheldthefirstsummitmeetingaftertheSovietUnion’sdisintegrationinBrussels.ThemeetingmainlydiscussedNATO’snewstrategyandinternaladjustmentsunderthenewsituation.IssuessuchastherelationsbetweenCentralandEasternEuropeancountriesandtheconflictinBosniaandHerzegovina.Themeetingputforwardthe"PartnershipforPeacePlan"andissuedthe"SummitStatement."

OnMay31,1995,attheNATOForeignMinisters’Meeting,RussianForeignMinisterKozyrevannouncedthatRussiahadformallyjoinedtheNATO"PartnershipforPeaceProgram"andsignedthe"BilateralMilitaryCooperationPlan"and"RegularPublicConsultationSystemFrameworkDocument".KozyrevalsosaidinaspeechthatRussiastillopposesNATO’seastwardexpansion,sayingthatNATO’seastwardexpansion“isneitherintheinterestsofRussia’snationalsecuritynorinthesecurityinterestsofthewholeofEurope”.“NATOasamilitarygrouprunscountertothetrendofestablishingaunifiedEurope.".

OnDecember5,1995,theNATOCouncilofMinistersapprovedthestudyreportonNATO’seastwardexpansionandapprovedtheSpanishForeignMinisterJavierSolanaasNATOSecretary-General.FrenchForeignMinisterDeCharetteannouncedatthemeetingthatFrancehasdecidedtostrengthenrelationswithNATOandre-participateintheNATOMilitaryCommitteeandthemeetingofdefenseministers,butitdoesnotmeanthatFrancewillparticipateinNATO'smilitaryintegrationorganization.Subsequently,NATOheldthefirstjointmeetingofforeignministersanddefenseministerssince1979,andformallyapprovedthedispatchofamultinationalforceof60,000underthecommandofNATOtoBosniaandHerzegovinatosupervisetheimplementationofthepeaceagreementinBosniaandHerzegovina.Thisisthelargestmilitaryoperationontheterritoriesofnon-membersofNATO.14non-NATOmemberstates,includingRussia,alsoparticipatedinthemultinationalforce.

OnJune3,1996,theNATOCouncilofMinistersspringmeetingwasheldinBerlin,Germany.Itwasdecidedtoestablishamulti-nationalandmulti-armsjointtaskforceandagreedthattheWesternEuropeanUnioncountrieswouldnotsendgroundtroopstoparticipateinthesituation.,Mobilizetheabove-mentionedforcesinthenameoftheWesternEuropeanUnion,andcanuseNATOstaff,intelligence,communications,transportation,andlogisticsfacilitiestoimplementexternalpeacekeepingandhumanitarianassistanceoperations.ThisisalsothemaincontentofNATO'sestablishmentofEuropeandefensecharacteristics.

OnMarch20-21,1997,theUnitedStatesandRussiaheldaspecialsummitinHelsinkionNATO’seastwardexpansion,armscontrol,andbilateraleconomicandtradecooperation.BothsideshavedifferentopinionsontheissueofNATO'seastwardexpansion,butbothexpressedacertaindesireforcooperation.Russianolongerinsistsonsigninga"legallybinding"NATO-Russiabilateralrelationshipdocument,andagreestoNATO'sproposaltosigna"politicalbinding"internationalagreementbytheheadofstateorgovernment.

Theleadersof16NATOcountries,NATOSecretary-GeneralSolana,andPresidentoftheRussianFederationYeltsinformallysignedthe"BasicDocumentonMutualRelations,CooperationandSecuritybetweenNATOandRussia"inParis.Thedocumentstatesthatthetwosidesdonotregardeachotheraspotentialenemiesandstrivetoincreasemutualtrust;strengthencomprehensivecooperationinthefieldsofEuropeansecurity,peacekeeping,armscontrol,anti-terrorism,andanti-smuggling;establishajointNATOsecretary-general,Russianrepresentatives,andNATOmembersTheRussian-NATOPermanentJointCouncilcomposedofrepresentativesoftheRussianFederationholdsatleasttwomeetingsofforeignministersanddefenseministersayear,andanambassador-levelmeetingonceamonthtoconductconsultationsonbilateralsecurityissues,butrelevantdecisionsneedtobemadewithunanimousconsent;NATOstatedthatithas"noplan,noreason,noplan"todeploynuclearweaponsontheterritoryofnewmemberstatesanddispatchcombattroopstonewmemberstates,butitwillnotgiveuptherighttoconductmilitaryexercisesandhaveminimummilitaryfacilitiesinnewmemberstates.

OnMay29-30,theNATOForeignMinisters’SpringCouncilwasheldinSintra,Portugal,anddecidedtoestablisha“Europe-AtlanticPartnershipCommittee”toreplacetheNorthCooperationCouncil,strengthenthePeacePartnershipProgram,andreturnAdvocatingtostrengthenthetiesbetweenNATOandtheMediterraneancountries,anddecidedtotrainmilitarypersonnelforthesixMediterraneancountriesEgypt,Israel,Jordan,Morocco,Tunisia,andMauritania.OnJuly8-9,NATOmemberstatesheldasummitmeetinginMadridandunanimouslydecidedtoimmediatelyholdaccessionnegotiationswithPoland,Hungary,andtheCzechRepublic,andcompletethelegalapprovalproceduresbeforethe50thanniversaryoftheestablishmentofNATOin1999.The"NATODeclarationonEastwardExpansion"adoptedatthemeetingstatedthatNATOwillneverexcludeanyEuropeandemocracies.RomaniaandSloveniawillbecandidatesforthesecondroundofeastwardexpansion.TheNATOsummitalsopassedtheNATO-Ukrainespecialpartnershipcharter.Duringthemeeting,the"Euro-AtlanticPartnershipCommittee"helditsfirstsummit.

OnDecember2,NATO'sautumndefenseministersmeetingwasheldinBrussels.AstheUnitedKingdommadeconcessionstoSpainontheissueofairsupremacyintheStraitofGibraltarandGreeceandTurkeyreachedacompromiseontheissueofairsupremacyintheAegeanSea,NATO’sinternalinstitutionalreformhastakenanimportantstepforward.ThemeetingdecidedtoreducethelevelofNATOmilitarycommandstructurefromfourtothree,andreducethenumberofvarioustypesofheadquartersfrom65to20.ItwasalsodecidedtocontinuetomaintaintheNATOpeacekeepingforceinBosniaandHerzegovinaaftertheexpirationofthemissionoftheNATOpeacekeepingforceinBosniaandHerzegovinainJune1998.Acertainscaleofmilitarypresence.SpaindecidedtoreturntoNATO'smilitaryintegrationagencybecauseitsrequirementsforairsupremacyovertheStraitofGibraltarweremet.Onthe16th,theNATOForeignMinisters'AutumnCouncilwasheldinBrussels.16TheforeignministersandtheforeignministersofPoland,Hungary,andtheCzechRepublicformallysignedtheprotocolontheaccessionofPoland,Hungary,andtheCzechRepublictoNATO,andapprovedtheDecember2ndNATODefenseMinisters’MeetingonstreamliningthemilitarycommandsystemandextendingthemissionofNATOtroopsinBosniaandHerzegovina.protocol.

FromMay28thto29th,1998,theNATOForeignMinisters’SpringCouncilwasheldinLuxembourg,mainlydiscussingthenucleartestsofKosovo,IndiaandPakistan.The16NATOcountriesand28partnercountriesalsoheldameetingofforeignministersofthe"Euro-AtlanticPartnershipCommittee".

OnMarch20,2011,theFrenchnuclear-poweredaircraftcarrier"CharlesdeGaulle"setofffromtheFrenchnavalbaseofToulontoparticipateinthemilitarystrikeagainstLibya.

OnMarch23,2011,theUnitedStates,theUnitedKingdom,andFrancehavereachedanagreement,decidingtotransferthemilitarycommandoftheLibyaoperationtoNATO.Atthesametime,theparticipatingcountries(includingArabcountries)formaseparatealliance.Responsiblefordirectingactionspolitically.

Onthe22nd,NATOdecidedtoimposeanarmsembargoonLibya.AccordingtoNATOmilitaryofficials,16warshipsfromNATOmemberstateswillparticipateinthisoperation.

NATOhasformulatedthreemilitaryplansrelatedtoLibya:humanitarianrelief,armsembargoandimplementationofno-flyzones.AllthreeplanshavebeenapprovedbyNATO'sdecision-makingbody,theNorthAtlanticCouncil.NATOhasalreadydecidedonthe22ndtolaunchthearmsembargooperationplan,andwhenotherplanswillbelaunched,theNATOmemberstateshavetounanimouslyagree.

TheUNSecurityCouncilpassedaresolutiononMarch17,2011,decidingtoestablishano-flyzoneinLibya,andrequiringrelevantcountriestotakeallnecessarymeasurestoprotectLibyanciviliansandciviliansettlementsfromthethreatofarmedattacks.TheLibyangovernmentstatedonMarch18,2011thatitwouldacceptrelevantUNSecurityCouncilresolutions,immediatelyceasefireandceaseallmilitaryoperations.

ThereportreceivedbytheUnitedStatesonMarch19,2011showedthattheLibyanarmyandtheoppositionwerestillfightingfiercelyinBenghazi.Forthisreason,theparticipantsintheParissummitfeltthatitcouldnotbedelayedanylonger.

At5:45ontheafternoonofMarch19,2011(0:45onthe20th,Beijingtime),FrenchfighterstooktheleadinfiringongroundmilitarytargetsinLibya.

FromFebruary15to16,2000,NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonpaidaworkingvisittoRussia,andthetwosidesresumedcontactsthathadbeeninterruptedfornearlyayear.

OnMay3,2000,JosephRalstonsucceededClarkasthesupremecommanderoftheEuropeanAlliedForces.

Onthe18th,NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonsaidduringhisvisittoFinlandthattherelationshipbetweentheEUandNATOshouldbefrankandtransparent.TheestablishmentofastructureparalleltoNATObytheEUdoesnotmatterintermsofeconomics,militaryresources,andplans.Itisunwiseintermsofability.LuoalsosaidthattheUnitedStates'considerationofwithdrawingtroopsfromKosovowillweakenNATO.

Fromthe18thtothe19th,the"NATORoleintheFutureofEurope"conferencewasheldinVilnius,Lithuania.TheforeignministersanddefenseministersoftheUnitedStates,Britain,Franceand9countriesthatappliedtojoinNATOattendedthemeeting.NineapplicantsissuedajointstatementfromforeignministersrequestingthattheybeadmittedtoNATOin2002.

FromMay24to25,theNATOCouncilofForeignMinisters,NATO-RussiaPermanentCouncil,NATO-UkraineCouncil,andEurope-AtlanticPartnershipCommitteeweresuccessivelyheldinFlorence,Italy.AttheNATOCouncilofForeignMinisters,theUnitedStatesannouncedtheideaof​​establishinganationalmissiledefensesystem,butitfailedtodispelthedoubtsoftheEuropeanallies.RussianForeignMinisterIvanovparticipatedintheNATO-RussiaPermanentCouncilmeetingthatwassuspendedformorethanayear.Thetwosidesreaffirmedtheircommitmenttoestablishingastrong,stableandlastingcooperativerelationship.NATOproposedtoestablishaNATOliaisonofficeinMoscowassoonaspossible.Croatiaofficiallyjoinedthe"PartnershipforPeaceProgram".

OnJune5,2000,PresidentPutinoftheRussianFederationproposedduringhisvisittoItalythatRussia,theEuropeanUnionandNATOshouldjointlybuildanon-strategicmissiledefensesystemacrossEurope.

Sincethe7th,11countriesinNATOandtheBalticSearegionwillholda10-daymaritimemilitaryexerciseintheBalticSea.

Onthe10th,USSecretaryofDefenseCohenheldtalkswiththedefenseministersofthethreeBalticcountriesincludingLithuania,LatviaandEstoniainVilniusonNATO’seastwardexpansionandregionalsecurityissues,sayingthatthepaceofNATO’seastwardexpansionwillnotstop.,RussiahasnovetopoweroverNATO’sdecision.

OnDecember5,2000,theNATODefenseMinistersMeetingwasheldinBrussels.USSecretaryofDefenseCohenwarnedthatiftherelationshipbetweentheEU’srapidreactionforceandNATOisnothandledproperly,itwillweakentheUnitedStates,NATOandNATO.TherelationshipbetweenNATOandtheEuropeanUnionmaybecomea"historicalrelic."

Onthe14th,Bruce,thediplomaticadvisertoUSPresidentBushandchairmanoftheNATOEastwardExpansionCommittee,statedthatNATOwillstrivetomakeallapplicantcountriesjointheorganizationby2010.

Fromthe14thtothe15th,theNATOCouncilofForeignMinisters,NATO-RussiaPermanentCouncil,NATO-UkraineCouncil,andEurope-AtlanticPartnershipCommitteewereheldinBrussels.TheNATOCouncilofForeignMinistersmainlydiscussedthedefenserelationshipbetweenNATOandtheEuropeanUnion,andemphasizedthatEuropeandefenseisnottheestablishmentofaEuropeanarmy.ThetwosideswillhandletherelationshipbetweenthetwoagenciesonthebasisoftheprinciplesestablishedbytheWashingtonSummit.Agreedonthemeetingmechanismbetweenthetwoparties.DuetoTurkey'sresoluteresistance,themeetingfailedtoreachanagreementontheEU'ssharedNATOcommandsystem.NATOandRussiaheldtalksonfurtherresumingbilateralrelationsandreachedanagreementontheopeningofaliaisonofficeforNATOinRussia.

InJanuary2001,NATOandtheEuropeanUnionestablisheda"PermanentConsultationArrangement",whichstipulatedthattheforeignministersofthetwosideswouldmeettwiceayearandtheambassadorialmeetingwouldbeheldthreetimesaquarter.

OnFebruary20,2001,theNATOPressServiceinRussiawasestablished.NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonwenttoMoscowtoattendtheceremony.

FromMay28toJune1,2001,NATOheldacivilemergencyplananddual-usecooperationtrainingcourseinAlmaty,thecapitalofKazakhstan.KazakhstanandotherCentralAsianneighboringcountriessentpersonneltoparticipate.

OnMay29-30,2001,NATOSpringForeignMinisters’Council,NATO-RussiaPermanentCouncil,NATO-UkraineCouncil,andEuro-AtlanticPartnershipCommitteewereheldinBudapest.TheCouncilofForeignMinistersmainlydealswithissuessuchastheMacedoniancrisis,peaceintheBalkans,cooperationbetweenNATOandtheEuropeanUnion,missiledefenseandtheproliferationofweaponsofmassdestruction.NATOcountriesreaffirmedtheircommitmenttosecurityandstabilityinSoutheastEurope.NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonsaidthatNATOhadplayedakeyroleinendingthedivisionofEurope,anditwasplayinganequallyimportantroleinbringingthecountriesoftheEuropeancontinentclosertogetherintheearly21stcentury.Duringthemeeting,NATOandtheEuropeanUnionheldthefirstofficialministerialmeetingtodiscussthepossibilityofstrengtheningcooperationandtakingjointactions.

OnJune7-8,2001,theNATODefenseMinisters’MeetingwasheldinBrussels,mainlydiscussingissuessuchasNATO’sinternalEuropeandefensefeaturesandmissiledefense.USSecretaryofDefenseRumsfeldgaveafurtherexplanationtothealliesontheUSplantodevelopamissiledefensesystem,butitfailedtocompletelyeliminateallies’misgivings,andallcountriesdecidedtocontinueconsultationsonthis.

OnJune12,2001,theNATOMilitaryCommissionandtheEuropeanMilitaryCommissionheldtheirfirstmeetingatNATOHeadquarters,co-chairedbyNATOMilitaryCommissionPresidentVenturoniandEUMilitaryCommissionPresidentHagrande,Thetwosidesmainlyexchangedrelevantinformationonthedevelopmentofsecuritycooperation.

OnJune13,2001,theNATOspecialsummitmeetingwasheldattheNATOheadquarters.ItmainlydiscussedNATO’snextroundofeastwardexpansion,Macedonia’ssecuritysituation,andNATO’smilitarypowermodernization.NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonreiteratedthatthesecondroundofeastwardexpansionwillbeachievedattheNATOSummitinPragueinNovember2002.

OnAugust22,2001,attherequestofthePresidentofMacedonia,NATOsent3,500troopstothecountrytocarryoutapeacekeepingmissioncalled"OperationHarvest",responsibleforoverseeingtheceasefireandcollectinganddestroyingAlbanianfighters.Weapons.OnSeptember12,2001,theNorthAtlanticCouncilissuedastatementontheterroristattacksinNewYorkandWashington,theUnitedStates,stronglycondemninginternationalterrorism,andexpresseditsreadinesstoactivateArticle5oftheNorthAtlanticTreatytosupporttheUnitedStates.Subsequently,NATOissuedjointstatementswithRussiaandUkrainetostronglycondemntheSeptember11terroristattacks.

OnSeptember27,2001,NATOannouncedthat"OperationHarvest"hadbeensuccessfullycompleted.AttherequestofthePresidentofMacedonia,NATO’s"OperationRedFox",whichisdominatedbyGermanforces,willbeimplementedtodayfor3months.Aftertheexpiration,itcanbepostponeddependingonthecircumstances.

OnOctober2,2001,NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonannouncedthatNATOhadofficiallylaunchedArticle5oftheNorthAtlanticTreatytosupporttheUSmilitaryoperationsagainstterrorisminAfghanistan.TheEuropeanmemberstatesofNATOdispatchedanearlywarningaircraftandprovidedaircorridorstotheUnitedStatesonOctober7,2001,tosupporttheU.S.militaryoperationsagainstterrorism.

OnOctober3,2001,PresidentPutinoftheRussianFederationvisitedNATOheadquartersforthefirsttime.

FromNovember21to23,2001,NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonwenttoRussiaonthedevelopmentofanewpartnershipbetweenNATOandRussia,andsubmittedtothePresidentoftheRussianFederationPutinondeepeningcooperationbetweenthetwosidesinthefieldofcounter-terrorism.Packageofrecommendations.

OnDecember6thand7th,2001,NATO’sAutumnForeignMinisters’CouncilwasheldinBrussels,focusingontheissueofbuildinganewrelationshipbetweenNATOandRussia.Atthesametime,theNATO-RussianPermanentJointCouncilissuedastatementstatingthatthetwosideswillestablishameetingincludingconsultation,cooperation,jointdecision-makingandjointactionbeforetheNATOSpringForeignMinisters’CouncilonthebasisofthebasicdocumentsofNATO-Russiabilateralrelations.Newmechanism.Thenatureandscopeofthemechanismwillbedeterminedthroughnegotiationsbetweenthetwopartiesinthenextfewmonths.NATOSecretary-GeneralRobertsonsaidthatthenewmechanismwillmakeRussiaa"comprehensivepartner"ofNATO.RussianForeignMinisterIvanovcalledthisa"far-reachingchange"intherelationshipbetweenthetwosides.However,USSecretaryofStatePowellemphasizedthatNATOwillmaintainitsindependentdecision-makingandactionrightsonallissuesandwillnotgiveRussiatherighttovetoonanyissues.

OnDecember7,2001,NATOannouncedthatattherequestoftheMacedonianPresident,the"RedFoxOperation"inMacedoniawouldbeextendedforthreemonthsuntilMarch26,2002.

OnDecember18and19,2001,theNATODefenseMinisters’MeetingwasheldinBrusselstodiscussissuessuchascounter-terrorism,strengtheningNATO’sabilitytorespondtonewcrises,anddevelopingNATO-Russianrelations.

OnMarch17,2009,theFrenchNationalAssembly(thelowerhouseoftheparliament)passedthedecisionofFrancetoreturntotheNATOmilitaryintegrationagencyafteradebateandvote.

March19,2011OnMarch24,theUnitedKingdom,theUnitedStates,andFrance,NATOmemberstates,launchedattacksonLibya.OnMarch24,NATOformallytookovertheLibyamission.

Emergencies

KosovoOperation

OnJune14,1998,NATOSecretary-GeneralSolanastatedthatoncetheinternationalpeacemissiontoresolvetheKosovoissuewasfrustrated,NATOwillusemilitarymeans.

OnOctober13,1998,NATOissuedan"actionableorder"totheYugoslavFederationtoimplementlimitedairstrikesinstages.NATOSecretary-GeneralSolanasaidthatthismeansthatthe16NATOcountrieshavehandedoverthedecisiontotakemilitaryactionsagainsttheSouthtotheNATOEuropeanAlliedForcesCommander.

OnDecember1,1998,theUpperHouseoftheDutchParliamentapprovedtheNATOEastwardExpansionProtocol.Sofar,sinceCanadafirstratifiedtheprotocolonFebruary4,1998,the16NATOlegislatureshaveallfulfilledthelegalproceduresforadmittingPoland,Hungary,andtheCzechRepublic.

OnDecember8-9,1998,theNATOForeignMinisters’AutumnCouncilwasheldinBrusselstodiscussNATO’snewstrategy.TheUnitedStatesemphasizesthatinthefaceofthreatsfromtheproliferationofweaponsofmassdestruction,internationalterroristactivities,andregionalandethnicconflicts,NATO’snewstrategyshouldnotonlyadheretotheprincipleofcollectivedefense,butalsoinclude“defenseofcommoninterests”;NATO’sforeignmilitaryinterventionsshouldcomplywiththeUNCharter,ItdoesnothavetobeauthorizedbytheSecurityCouncil.WesternEuropeancountriessuchasFrancebelievethattheinterpretationof"commoninterest"istooflexible,andemphasizesthat"outsidetheregion"interventioncannotbeunlimited,andNATO'sforeigninterventionshouldnotbypasstheUNSecurityCouncil.GermanForeignMinisterFischeronceagainexpressedhopethatNATOwillgraduallychangeitsnucleardeterrencestrategyandmakeacommitmentnottobethefirsttousenuclearweapons.Canada,Denmark,andNorwayexpressedsupportfortheGermanproposition,buttheUnitedStates,France,andBritainfirmlyopposedit.Atthesametime,the"Euro-AtlanticPartnershipCommittee"heldameetingofforeignministersandadoptedanactionplanfrom1998to2000.AustrianForeignMinisterSchüsselandNATOSecretaryGeneralSolanaheldthefirstEU-NATOmeeting.OnMarch12,1999,NATOheldaceremonyinMissouri,theUnitedStates,formallyadmittingPoland,Hungary,andtheCzechRepublicintothealliance.ThethreecountriesstatedthatjoiningNATOistoseeksecurityandenablethemselvestoachievethegoalof"returningtoEurope."U.S.SecretaryofStateAlbrightwelcomedthethreecountries’accessiontothetreatyandsaidthatthiswillnotbethelastbatch,becauseNATO’seastwardexpansionisnotanevent,butaprocess.

FromMarch24toJune10,1999,NATOcarriedoutalarge-scaleairstrikeagainsttheYugoslaviawithoutauthorizationoftheUNSecurityCouncil.ExceptfortheUnitedStatesandCanada,allthe13alliesinWesternEuropeparticipatedexceptGreece,whichdidnotadvocatetheuseofforceduetoitsowninterests.Britain,France,Germany,Italy,theNetherlands,Spain,Belgium,Denmark,Norway,PortugalandPortugaldirectlyparticipatedinthewar.AlthoughIcelandandLuxembourgdidnothaveanairforce,theyalsosupportedthemthroughfundingortheprovisionofairports.Austria,Switzerland,andSwedenOthertraditionalneutralcountriesalsoexpressedsupportforNATO'sactions.ThePresidentoftheRussianFederationYeltsinissuedastatementstronglycondemningNATO’sairstrikesagainstYugoslavia,accusingitofanopenactofaggression,anddecidedtoimmediatelyfreezerelationswithNATO,recallRussianmilitaryrepresentativestoNATO,andsuspendparticipationinNATO’s"PartnershipforPeaceProgram."

OnApril21,1999,theCzechRepublic,Bulgaria,Slovakia,andHungarymadethedecisiontoopenairspace,landandwaterroutestoNATOforcescarryingoutmilitaryoperationsagainstYugoslavia.Onthe22nd,RomaniaannouncedtheopeningofitsairspacetoNATO.

OnMay8,1999,theChineseEmbassyintheFederalRepublicofYugoslaviawasattackedbyNATOmissiles.Onthesameday,ChineseAmbassadortotheUnitedNationsQinHuasunsaidthatChinawasshockedbytheincidentandstronglycondemnedthebarbaricactsoftheUnitedStates-ledNATObombingourembassyinviolationoftheUNCharter,anddemandedthattheSecurityCouncilimmediatelyconveneanemergencymeetingtodiscussthematter.Onthesameday,NATOSecretary-GeneralSolanaissuedastatementstatingthattheNATOmissileattackontheChineseEmbassyinYugoslaviawaspurelyaccidentalandNATOwillinvestigatethiscatastrophicerror.NATOexpressesitsdeepapologiestothefamiliesofthevictimsandtheChinesegovernment,butNATOwillnotstopitsbombingofYugoslaviaunlessitagreestoNATO'sconditionstostopthebombing.

OnMay9,1999,theChinesegovernmentissuedasolemnstatement,stronglyprotestingNATO’sbombingofourembassyinYugoslavia,pointingoutthatNATO’sactwasagrossviolationofChina’ssovereigntyandwasalsoaviolationoftheViennaConventiononDiplomaticRelations.Forwantontramplingofthebasicnormsofinternationalrelations,NATO,headedbytheUnitedStates,mustbearfullresponsibilityforthis.

OnJune9,1999,NATOandYugoslaviasignedanagreementonthewithdrawalofYugoslaviatroopsfromKosovo.Onthe10th,NATOSecretary-GeneralSolanaannouncedinBrusselsthatastheYugoslaviahasbeguntowithdrawtroopsfromKosovo,NATOwillsuspenditsbombingoftheSouth.

Onthe20th,SolanaissuedastatementstatingthatNATOhasdecidedtoformallystopbombingtheYugoslaviabecausetheYugoslavianarmyandpolicehaveallwithdrawnfromKosovo.

OnDecember2,1999,NATOheldameetingoftheDefensePlanningCommitteeandtheNuclearPlanningGroup,andissuedacommuniquéstatingthatNATO’snuclearforceswillcontinueto"defendpeace,preventpowerandvariousformsofwar."service.ThemeetingcalledonRussiatoratifythesecondphaseofthetreatyonthelimitationofstrategicnuclearweaponsandstartthethirdphaseofnegotiations.

OnDecember15,1999,NATOheldanautumnforeignministerscouncilatitsheadquartersinBrussels.U.S.DeputySecretaryofStateTalbotattendedthemeetinginsteadofSecretaryofStateAlbright.ThemeetingmainlydiscussedEuropeansecurityandthecharacteristicsofWesternEuropeandefense,theUStheatermissiledefensesystem,thesituationinKosovo,Chechnyaandotherissues.NATOwelcomestheEU’sdecisiontoformtheEuropeanRapidResponseForceattheHelsinkiSummit,butemphasizesthattheEU’sjointdefenseplanshouldnotruncountertoNATO,butshouldpromotecross-straitrelations,andrequirestheEUtotreatthesixnon-EUmembersofNATO.Turkey,Norway,Iceland,Poland,HungaryandtheCzechRepublicaretreatedequally.

LibyaCivilWar

OnMarch27,2011,NATOdecidedtotakeoverallmilitaryoperationsagainstLibyaauthorizedbytheUNSecurityCouncilresolution.

MemberStates

TheUnitedStates,theleaderofNATO,theUnitedNationsandoneofthemostimportantcountriesintheworld.

Canada,oneoftheimportanttrans-Atlanticcountries,neighborsoftheUnitedStates.TheterritoryareaissecondonlytoRussia,anditisalsooneoftheworld'seconomicpowers.

Britain,themostreliableallyoftheUnitedStates,oneofthethreemostpowerfulpowersinWesternEurope,andoneofthefivepermanentmembersoftheUnitedNations.

France,oneofthethreemostpowerfulcountriesinWesternEurope,isalsoapermanentmemberoftheUnitedNations.

Germany,thecountrythatinitiatedthetwoworldwars,isoneofthethreestrongestpowersinWesternEurope,anditseconomyranksfirstinEurope.

Italy,modernItalianshaveadeeprelationshipwiththeancientRomansinblood.

Greece,acountrywithalongandancientcivilization,isalsothefirstOrthodox(GreekOrthodox)countrythatappearedintheWesterncampandisalsothecenterofOrthodox(GreekOrthodox).

Netherlands,oneoftheearliestmemberstatesofNATOEU.Itwasonceknownastheseacoachman.IthasaspecialhistoricalconnectionwithBritain.

Belgium,SouthHollandseparatedfromtheNetherlands,themainethnicgroupistheDutchandFrenchwhobelieveinCatholicism.ItisalsooneoftheearliestmemberstatesofNATOandtheEuropeanUnion.ThecapitalBrusselsisthesymbolicheadquartersofNATO.

Luxembourg,themostfamousgrandduchyintheworld,issmallbuthasveryhighqualifications.

Spain,beforetheUnitedKingdom,wastheworld'sfirstcolonialempire.

Portugal,onceacolonialempire,isalsothepoorestcountryinWesternEurope.AfterfightingagainsttheMoors,theypartedwayswithSpain.

Denmark,oneofthemostprosperouskingdomsinNorthernEurope,hasanimportantgeographicallocationandisconvenienttocontaintheoperationalcapabilitiesoftheRussianBalticFleet.

Norway,thenorthernEuropeankingdomwiththerichestpersonality,isveryrich.IthasrefusedtojointheEUthreetimes.Itisstillanon-EUcountry,butitcanenjoythesametreatmentasEUcountries.GeopoliticsbordersRussia'sNorthernFleet.

Iceland,becauseofitsethnic,religious,andculturaltieswithNorway,ismorelikeaNorwegianfollower,norwillitjointheEUifitdoesnotentertheEuropeanUnion.Geographicallocationisimportant,justrightinthetransatlanticcenter.

HungarywasoncepartoftheAustro-HungarianEmpire.DuringthetimeoftheHungarianPeople'sRepublic,itwasonceamemberoftheWarsawPact,anditwasalsoasatellitecountrycontrolledbytheSovietUnion.Afterthe1980s,thepoliticalsystemchangedduetothedrasticchangesinEasternEurope,andjoinedtheWesterncampafewyearslater.

Poland,onceamemberoftheWarsawPactwithastrongmilitarypowersecondonlytotheSovietUnion,wasalsoasatellitecountrycontrolledbytheSovietUnion.Atthebeginningofthe21stcentury,wehavebeenintheWesterncamp.

TheCzechRepublic,partoftheAustro-HungarianEmpireandpartoftheGreaterMoraviaState,laterformedtheUnitedNationswithSlovakia.RuledbyNaziGermanyinWorldWarII,CzechoslovakiawasliberatedbytheSovietUnionin1945.ItisalsoamemberoftheWarsawPact,asatellitecountryoftheSovietUnion.Afterthedrasticchanges,itbecamethefirstthreeformerWarsawPactcountriestobeacceptedbyNATO.

Slovakia,animportantCentralEuropeancountry,onceformedtheUnitedNationswiththeCzechRepublicandispartofGreaterMoravia.TheeconomyinamountainousareaisnotasdevelopedasthatoftheCzechRepublic.

Romania,afterGreece,becamethesecondgroupofEasternOrthodox(GreekOrthodox)countriestojoinNATO.InLatin,Romaniameans"thecountryoftheRomans"andbecameasubsidiaryoftheOttomanEmpireafterthe16thcentury.country.In1859,thePrincipalityofWallachiaandthePrincipalityofMoldovamergedtoformthePrincipalityofRomania.In1881,theKingdomofRomaniawasestablished.OnDecember22,1989,thedictatorshipofNicolaCeausescuwasoverthrownandthecapitalistpoliticalsystemwasestablished.RomaniahasthehighesteconomicgrowthamongEUmemberstatesandwaslistedasahigh-incomeeconomybytheWorldBankin2019.Regionalandinternationalinfluencecontinuestoincrease,winningthereputationof"EuropeanTiger".

BulgariaisalsothesecondgroupofEasternOrthodox(GreekOrthodox)countriestojoinNATOafterGreece.OncereducedtoapossessionoftheOttomanEmpire,itwasalsothebiggestloseroftheBalkanWar.AfterWorldWarII,italsobecameamemberoftheWarsawPactandasatellitecountrycontrolledbytheSovietUnion.Sofar,BulgariahasbeenbroodingabouttheMacedonianissue.LocatedintheBalkanroseproducingarea.ThereisaspecialgroupofPomacs(TurkishBulgarians)intheterritory.

EstoniahasadeepconnectionwithFinlandinreligionandadeepconnectionwithRussiainculture.ItwasannexedbytheSovietUnionin1940,anditsmodernsituationissimilartoLithuania.

Latvia,theBalticpeoplesinfluencedbytheTeutonicKnights,wasannexedbytheSovietUnionin1940.ThemodernsituationissimilartothatofLithuania.

Lithuania,thePrincipalityofLithuaniawasveryfamousinhistory,andithasbeenconstantlyinvadedbyforeignenemies,butaninevitableeventisthattheSovietUnionsenttroopstoannexLithuaniain1940becauseofthecrisisoftheEasternFront.Afterindependence,LithuaniaenteredtheWesterncampandhadanationalhatredwithRussia.

Slovenia,thefirstcountryinCentralandEasternEuropetogetridofpovertyandbecomerich(thefirsttojointheeurozoneandthefirsttoentertheranksofdevelopedcountries).

CroatiawasonceannexedtoYugoslaviaandthenre-independent.DuetothewarinBosniaandHerzegovinaandtheSlavoniaissue,theprogressofjoiningNATOandtheEuropeanUnionhasbeengreatlydelayed.ItbecameanewmemberofNATOin2009andanewmemberoftheEuropeanUnionin2013.ItisbothaNATOcountryandanEUcountry.

Albania,thelastcountryintheBalkanstoendOttomanrule,isalsothecountrymostaffectedbyTurkey.MostAlbanianshaveconvertedtoIslam.Therefore,ithasalsobecomethesecondNATOcountrytobethesubjectofIslamafterTurkey.

Montenegro,asmallmountainouscountryontheeastcoastoftheAdriaticSea,locatedinthesouthwesternpartoftheBalkanPeninsula,onMay21,2006,decidedwhetherdomesticcitizensvotedindependently,June3,2006TheParliamentofMontenegroofficiallydeclaredindependence.OnMarch28,2017,theU.S.SenateheldavotetoapproveMontenegro'saccessiontotheNorthAtlanticTreatyOrganization.

NorthMacedoniaisalandlockedcountrylocatedinthesouthoftheBalkanPeninsulainSoutheastEurope.ItbordersBulgariatotheeast,Serbiatothenorth,Albaniatothewest,andGreecetothesouth.TheancientMacedoniaregionincludestheRepublicofMacedonia,CentralMacedonia,WesternMacedonia,andEasternMacedonia-ThraceinnorthernGreece.

Turkey,whichstraddlesthetwocontinentsofEuropeandAsia,wasinvinciblebytheOttomanTurkEmpireandalmostdestroyedWesternculture.ThefirstIslamiccountrytojoinNATO.Thegeographicalpositionisimportant,anditplaysaroleincontainingtheRussianBlackSeaFleet.ItisanimportantallyoftheUnitedStatesintheNearEastandtheMiddleEast.TheTurkisharmyisNATO'ssecondlargestpermanentforce,secondonlytotheUSarmy,andhasfivebrancheswithacombinedstrengthofmorethanonemillionmilitaryandpolicepersonnel.TurkeyisconsideredthestrongestmilitarypowerintheMiddleEast(excludingIsrael).