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Creation of NATO. See what the "North Atlantic Alliance" is in other dictionaries When the North Atlantic Alliance was created

North Atlantic NATO alliance emerged in the spring of 1949. After the end of the Second World War, the defense forces of the countries of the world were exhausted, and there was a threat of new territorial conflicts.

Therefore, the five countries of Western Europe - Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and the Netherlands - united in a single defensive alliance. Soon, Canada and the United States also joined the young organization, and on April 4, 1949, the new military-political bloc already had twelve participating countries.

History of NATO.

In the 1950s, the North Atlantic Alliance actively developed and expanded. NATO armed forces were created, a charter was written, internal command structures were formed. Greece and Turkey joined the alliance in 1952.

In 1954, the USSR applied for membership in NATO, but the application was rejected - the North Atlantic Alliance was originally created precisely as a counterbalance to the powerful Soviet Union. Considering the rejection of its application as a security threat, in 1955 the USSR created its own association in Eastern Europe - the Warsaw Pact Organization.

Together with the collapse of the USSR, the Department of Internal Affairs also collapsed, however history of NATO continued. In 1982, Spain joined the alliance, in 1999 - Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. In 2004 and 2009, NATO again replenished with new states. At the moment, the union consists of 26 European states and 2 countries of North America.

The goals and objectives of NATO.

Declared NATO goals concern exclusively security, freedom and democracy. This organization, created for defense purposes, sets itself the task of maintaining stability throughout the world, resolving geopolitical unrest, protecting democracy, human rights and post-World War II borders.

However, it should be noted that in recent decades, NATO has been using very dubious methods to achieve its goals. So, in 1995 and 1999, the armed forces of the alliance were used on the territory of the former Yugoslavia, and at the moment the phrase "peacekeeping bombing" has become just a catch phrase.

The North Atlantic Alliance is showing interest, including in the countries of Central and Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa. NATO's traditional political adversaries are Russia and China.

abbreviated as NATO) is an aggressive military bloc of a number of capitalist states under the leadership of the United States, created in 1949 and bearing a character that is clearly hostile to the socialist countries. The block included the USA, Great Britain, France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Canada, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Portugal. Greece, Turkey, and in 1954 West Germany joined NATO in 1952. The Treaty (Pact) on the North Atlantic Alliance was concluded for a period of 20 years. NATO's supreme governing body is the Atlantic Council, consisting of ministers (foreign affairs, finance, defense, military ministers) of each of the countries participating in the treaty. A unified supreme command of the NATO armed forces in Europe has been created. Important command posts were occupied by former Nazi generals from the revived Bundeswehr. On the territory of the countries participating in the pact, the United States has created many military, air and naval bases, including those equipped for conducting missile warfare with the use of nuclear weapons against the USSR and other socialist countries. The creation of the North Atlantic Alliance led to an intensification of the arms race and international tension. By 1960, the parties to the pact spent about 550 billion dollars on military needs.

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NORTH ATLANTIC UNION

an aggressive imperialist bloc led by the United States, aimed at fomenting a third world war - against the Soviet Union and the people's democracies; the contract about S. - and. With. signed on April 4, 1949. Preparations for the creation of an aggressive anti-Soviet alliance began as early as World War II, when the British ruling circles put forward a project for a bloc of Western European powers. The plans hostile to the Soviet Union, already contained in these initial plans, were emphasized by the fact that the fascist dictator of Spain, Gen. Franco, who entered into correspondence on this issue with Churchill. After the end of the war, the reactionary press and politicians in Great Britain, France and other Western European countries began to openly discuss the projects of the "Western bloc". The US government also took part in the creation of this bloc. The American ruling circles put forward a direct demand that the provision of credits under the "Marshall Plan" be conditional on the creation of an anti-Soviet bloc of Western European states. One of the main stages in the preparation of the "Western bloc" was London meeting 1948 (see) on the German question. Thereafter, 4-12. III 1948, a meeting of representatives of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg was held in Brussels. Prepared at this meeting, the so-called. The Brussels pact on political, economic and military cooperation for a period of 50 years was signed by the 17. III foreign ministers of the five powers mentioned. The first three articles of the pact include the obligations of the contracting parties to coordinate their economic and commercial activities. But the true meaning of the pact lies in its 4th article, devoted to military obligations. According to this article, the contracting parties undertake to provide each other with "all military and other assistance and assistance at their disposal." The reference contained in this article to Art. Article 51 of the UN Charter, in accordance with which assistance is allegedly supposed to be provided, serves only to mask the real goals of an aggressive military bloc that strikes at the principles of the United Nations. The Brussels Pact is by no means directed against German aggression; Even before signing the pact, the participants in the pact abandoned the policy towards Germany that was adopted by the Crimean and Potsdam conferences, and, on the contrary, decided to assign the role of the main economic and military-strategic base of the "Western bloc" to the recent aggressor - Germany. On the other hand, the founders of the "Western bloc" not only ruled out from the very beginning the possibility of the participation of the countries of people's democracy and the Soviet Union in it, but also made no secret in their speeches that the pact was directed precisely against these countries. The "Western bloc" also provides for joint action by its members against progressive forces in each of the countries that have signed the Brussels Pact. At the same time, the governments of the "Western bloc" countries are trying to use this military-political group to suppress the national liberation movement in their colonies. On the basis of the Brussels Pact in 1948, the leading bodies of the "Western bloc" were created: the so-called. An advisory council consisting of representatives of five states in London, a military committee and the headquarters of the "Western bloc" headed by British Field Marshal Montgomery in Fontainebleau. The United States included its observers in all bodies of the "Western bloc". The conclusions of the military committee on strategic plans and military needs were to be submitted for approval to the American military department. Thus, already at this stage, the United States actually joined the "Western bloc." However, the Anglo-American ruling circles set themselves much broader goals than the creation of a Western European grouping. These goals were proclaimed as early as March 1946 in Churchill's speech at a meeting in Fulton, which took place under the chairmanship of Truman. As indicated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, published on January 29, 1949, these goals "are closely connected with plans for the forcible establishment of world Anglo-American domination under the auspices of the United States of America." Proceeding from these goals, the American government sought to transform the "Western bloc" into an even broader grouping of imperialist powers. On March 17, 1948, on the day the Brussels Pact was signed, US President Truman announced that the US would give full support to the "Western bloc." I. VI 1948 the American Congress adopted the so-called. "Vandenberg resolution", calling on the government to take the path of direct support for the Western military alliance. At the same time, the US State Department began negotiations with the countries of the "Western bloc" on the creation of S.-a. With. with the US and Canada. In order to help the reactionary governments of Italy, Denmark, Norway and other countries overcome the resistance of the parliamentary opposition and progressive public organizations that do not want these countries to be drawn into military blocs, in January 1949 it was announced the formation of a "European Council", allegedly not connected with the "Western bloc" and not having military purposes. In fact, the "Council of Europe" was called upon to promote the further liquidation of the sovereignty of the Western European states, the further subordination of Western Europe to the United States of America, and to facilitate the enlistment of Western Germany, as well as Italy and other countries, in participation in the SA. With. under the banner of "European cooperation". Anglo-American diplomacy made extensive use of intelligence and the press to intimidate small countries in order to attract them to S.-a. With. Particular attention was paid to the Scandinavian countries, of which two - Norway and Sweden - are located in close proximity to the borders of the USSR. 29. I 1949 The Soviet government turned to the government of Norway with a request to clarify the position of the Norwegian government on the issue of S.-a. s, and 5. II-with a proposal to conclude a non-aggression pact between Norway and the USSR. The Norwegian government, however, rejected the proposal of the Soviet Union and continued to negotiate about S.-a. With. The contract about S. - and. With. was signed in Washington by representatives of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Portugal. The pact consists of a preamble and 14 articles; its term is 20 years. The articles of the pact provide for the provision of military assistance to each participating country of S.-a. c, in case it is "attacked" by some other power. Art. 4, which provides for joint action by the signatory countries in the event of a threat to their "political independence or security", is designed to justify the intervention of the United States of America in the internal affairs of those countries in which the people will transfer power to the hands of democratic parties. S.-a. With. - "a tool for direct, immediate preparation for a new imperialist war" (G. M. Malenkov). In accordance with the terms of the pact about S.-a. With. The Council for the Implementation of the Pact and the Defense Committee were created - the military headquarters, whose task is to develop plans for aggression. "Entire states, especially those located near the borders of the USSR, are adapted to provide more convenient springboards for the Anglo-American air force and for other possibilities of attacking the USSR" (from the statement of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the North Atlantic Pact). S.'s initiators - and. With. immediately after its creation, they began to pursue a policy of splitting Germany and restoring its military-industrial potential even more vigorously, hoping to use West Germany as a springboard, arsenal and supplier of cannon fodder for their planned war against the Soviet Union. S.'s creation - and. With. marks a gross violation by the United States and Britain of the international obligations they assumed during the Second World War and after its end. This aggressive bloc clearly contradicts the basic principles of the charter of the United Nations and openly demonstrates the desire of aggressive states for world domination. It serves as an instrument of the ruling circles of the USA and Great Britain in their policy of inciting a new war. As auxiliary military groups, called along with S.-a. With. To help fulfill the US expansionist plans, the US State Department set about creating other blocs as well—the Pacific bloc, the bloc of Mediterranean states, and so on. Rio de Janeiro Conference 1947). The aggressive policy of the imperialist powers was exposed both in the statement of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the North Atlantic Pact, and in the memorandum of the USSR government, transmitted in late March - early April 1949 to most of the governments that signed the pact. Having shown that the USA, Great Britain and France had abandoned the policy of cooperation with the Soviet Union and other peace-loving countries, the Soviet government stated that "the so-called" new direction "of the foreign policy of the ruling circles of these states is that they returned to that old anti-Soviet course foreign policy based on the isolation of the USSR, which they adhered to in the years leading up to the Second World War, and which almost brought the civilization of Europe to disaster. The supporters of the preservation of peace, who constitute the majority of the population in all countries, sharply condemned the Anglo-American warmongers and the blocs they created. The will of the working people of France, Italy, Britain and other countries for peace was expressed by the leaders of the communist parties and other democratic organizations in these countries, who declared that the peoples of Western Europe would never fight against the Soviet Union. Hundreds of millions of working people united in the struggle for peace and waged a decisive struggle against S.-a. s, against the instigators of a new world war.

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alliance- a, m., book. Association of states, organizations, etc. on the basis of contractual obligations, common goals and interests. Enter into an alliance with smb. Election Alliance. North Atlantic Alliance. Synonyms: association/tion, bloc, coalition/tion (book),… … Popular dictionary of the Russian language

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Hoop Scheffer, Jaap de- Former Secretary General of NATO Former Secretary General of NATO (2004 2009). In 1986-2002 he was a member of the Dutch Parliament. In 2002 he became Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, concurrently since 2003 Chairman of the OSCE. ... ... Encyclopedia of newsmakers

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Books

Mission North Atlantic Alliance
Mission "North Atlantic Alliance", A.V. Zobnin. The book is devoted to the study of the formation of the Atlantic component of the US foreign policy, which determines the leading role of the United States in the creation and evolution of executive…

NORTH ATLANTIC UNION

An aggressive imperialist bloc led by the United States, aimed at fomenting a third world war - against the Soviet Union and the people's democracies; the contract about S. - and. With. signed 4. IV 1949.

Preparations for the creation of an aggressive anti-Soviet alliance began as early as World War II, when the British ruling circles put forward a project for a bloc of Western European powers. The plans hostile to the Soviet Union, already contained in these initial plans, were emphasized by the fact that the fascist dictator of Spain, Gen. Franco, who entered into correspondence on this issue with Churchill.

After the end of the war, the reactionary press and politicians in Great Britain, France, and other Western European countries began to openly discuss the projects of the "Western bloc." The US government also took part in the creation of this bloc. The American ruling circles put forward a direct demand that the provision of credits under the "Marshall Plan" be conditional on the creation of an anti-Soviet bloc of Western European states.

One of the main stages in the preparation of the "Western bloc" was London meeting 1948(see) on the German question. Thereafter, 4-12. III 1948, a meeting of representatives of Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg was held in Brussels. Prepared at this meeting, the so-called. The Brussels pact on political, economic and military cooperation for a period of 50 years was signed by the 17. III foreign ministers of the five powers mentioned. The first three articles of the pact include the obligations of the contracting parties to coordinate their economic and commercial activities. But the true meaning of the pact lies in its 4th article, devoted to military obligations.

According to this article, the contracting parties undertake to provide each other with "all military and other assistance and assistance at their disposal." The reference contained in this article to Art. Article 51 of the UN Charter, in accordance with which assistance is allegedly supposed to be provided, serves only to mask the real goals of an aggressive military bloc that strikes at the principles of the United Nations organization.

The Brussels Pact is by no means directed against German aggression; the participants in the pact, even before its signing, abandoned the policy towards Germany that was adopted by the Crimean and Potsdam conferences, and, on the contrary, decided to assign the role of the main economic and military-strategic base of the "Western bloc" to the recent aggressor - Germany. On the other hand, the founders of the "Western bloc" not only ruled out from the very beginning the possibility of the participation of the countries of people's democracy and the Soviet Union in it, but also did not hide in their speeches that the pact was directed precisely against these countries.

The "Western bloc" also provides for joint action by its members against progressive forces in each of the countries that have signed the Brussels Pact. At the same time, the governments of the "Western bloc" countries are trying to use this military-political group to suppress the national liberation movement in their colonies.

On the basis of the Brussels Pact in 1948, the leading bodies of the "Western bloc" were created: the so-called. An advisory council consisting of representatives of five states in London, a military committee and the headquarters of the "Western bloc" headed by British Field Marshal Montgomery in Fontainebleau.

The United States included its observers in all bodies of the "Western bloc". The conclusions of the military committee on strategic plans and military needs were to be submitted for approval to the American military department. Thus, already at this stage, the United States actually joined the "Western bloc." However, the Anglo-American ruling circles set themselves much broader goals than the creation of a Western European grouping. These goals were proclaimed as early as March 1946 in Churchill's speech at a meeting in Fulton, which took place under the chairmanship of Truman. As stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the USSR, published on January 29, 1949, these goals "are closely connected with the plans for the forcible establishment of world Anglo-American domination under the auspices of the United States of America." Proceeding from these goals, the American government sought to transform the "Western bloc" into an even broader grouping of imperialist powers.

On March 17, 1948, on the day the Brussels Pact was signed, US President Truman announced that the US would give full support to the "Western bloc." I. VI 1948 the American Congress adopted the so-called. "Vandenberg resolution", calling on the government to take the path of direct support for the Western military alliance. At the same time, the US State Department began negotiations with the countries of the "Western bloc" on the creation of S.-a. With. with the US and Canada. In order to help the reactionary governments of Italy, Denmark, Norway and other countries overcome the resistance of the parliamentary opposition and progressive public organizations that do not want these countries to be drawn into military blocs, in January 1949 it was announced the formation of a "European Council", allegedly not connected with the "Western bloc" and not having military purposes. In fact, the "Council of Europe" was called upon to promote the further liquidation of the sovereignty of the Western European states, the further subordination of Western Europe to the United States of America, and to facilitate the enlistment of Western Germany, as well as Italy and other countries, in participation in the SA. With. under the banner of "European cooperation".

Anglo-American diplomacy made extensive use of intelligence and the press to intimidate small countries in order to attract them to S.-a. With. Particular attention was paid to the Scandinavian countries, of which two - Norway and Sweden - are located in close proximity to the borders of the USSR.

29. I 1949 The Soviet government turned to the government of Norway with a request to clarify the position of the Norwegian government on the issue of S.-a. s, and 5. II-with a proposal to conclude a non-aggression pact between Norway and the USSR. The Norwegian government, however, rejected the proposal of the Soviet Union and continued to negotiate about S.-a. With.

The contract about S. - and. With. was signed in Washington by representatives of the United States, Canada, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Portugal. The pact consists of a preamble and 14 articles; its term is 20 years. The articles of the pact provide for the provision of military assistance to each participating country of S.-a. c, in case it is "attacked" by some other power. Art. 4, which provides for joint action by the countries that signed the pact in the event of a threat to their "political independence or security", is designed to justify the intervention of the United States of America in the internal affairs of those countries in which the people will transfer power to the hands of democratic parties.

S.-a. With. - "a tool for direct, immediate preparation for a new imperialist war" (G. M. Malenkov).

In accordance with the terms of the pact about S.-a. With. The Council for the Implementation of the Pact and the Defense Committee were created - the military headquarters, whose task is to develop plans for aggression. "Entire states, especially those located near the borders of the USSR, are adapted to provide more convenient springboards for the Anglo-American air force and for other possibilities of attacking the USSR" (from the statement of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the North Atlantic Pact).

S.'s initiators - and. With. immediately after its creation, they began to pursue a policy of splitting Germany and restoring its military-industrial potential even more vigorously, hoping to use West Germany as a springboard, arsenal and supplier of cannon fodder for their planned war against the Soviet Union.

S.'s creation - and. With. marks a gross violation by the United States and Britain of the international obligations they assumed during the Second World War and after its end. This aggressive bloc clearly contradicts the basic principles of the charter of the United Nations and openly demonstrates the desire of aggressive states for world domination. It serves as an instrument of the ruling circles of the United States and Great Britain in their policy of inciting a new war.

As auxiliary military groups, called along with S.-a. With. To help fulfill the US expansionist plans, the US State Department set about creating other blocs as well—the Pacific bloc, the bloc of Mediterranean states, and so on. Rio de Janeiro Conference 1947).

The aggressive policy of the imperialist powers was exposed both in the statement of the USSR Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the North Atlantic Pact, and in the memorandum of the USSR government, transmitted in late March - early April 1949 to most of the governments that signed the pact. Having shown that the USA, Great Britain and France had abandoned the policy of cooperation with the Soviet Union and other peace-loving countries, the Soviet government stated that "the so-called" new direction "of the foreign policy of the ruling circles of these states is that they returned to that old anti-Soviet course foreign policy based on the isolation of the USSR, which they adhered to in the years leading up to the second world war, and which almost brought the civilization of Europe to a catastrophe.

The supporters of the preservation of peace, who constitute the majority of the population in all countries, sharply condemned the Anglo-American warmongers and the blocs they created. The will of the working people of France, Italy, Britain and other countries for peace was expressed by the leaders of the communist parties and other democratic organizations in these countries, who declared that the peoples of Western Europe would never fight against the Soviet Union.

Hundreds of millions of working people united in the struggle for peace and waged a decisive struggle against S.-a. s, against the instigators of a new world war.

Diplomatic Dictionary. - M.: State publishing house of political literature. A. Ya. Vyshinsky, S. A. Lozovsky. 1948 .

See what the "NORTH ATLANTIC UNION" is in other dictionaries:

NORTH ATLANTIC PACT- - an aggressive imperialist treaty that formalized a military-political alliance (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO for short from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) of a number of countries in America and Europe, led by the United States. Signed April 4, 1949 ... ... Soviet legal dictionary

I (United States of America, Etats Unis, Vereinigte Staaten von Nord America) federal republic in North America, between 24° 30 and 49° N. latitude, and 66° 50 and 124° 31 west. duty. (Greenwich Mean Time), stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and ... ...

- (United States of America, Etats Unis, Vereinigte Staaten von Nord America) federal republic in North America, between 24° 30 and 49° N. latitude, and 66° 50 and 124° 31 west. duty. (Greenwich Mean Time), stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and ... ... Encyclopedic Dictionary F.A. Brockhaus and I.A. Efron- the obligation of the state established by international agreement not to participate in any kind of war, except in cases of armed defense of its own territory from attack or from attempts by belligerent states to include it in orbit ... ... Diplomatic Dictionary

- (b. 1889) Portuguese dictator since 1932. Economist by education, S. in 1928, after the fascist coup gen. Carmona (see), received the portfolio of the Minister of Finance. From July 1932 he became prime minister, and then also minister of war (1936 44) and ... ... Diplomatic Dictionary

International agreements binding states located in a certain geographical area and assuming obligations in relation to this area. At one time, the idea of R. s. about mutual assistance against aggression was persistently put forward ... Diplomatic Dictionary

- (b. 1899) Belgian diplomat and statesman, lawyer by education. S. participated in the First World War, in 1916 18 he was a prisoner in Germany. In 1932 he was elected to parliament from the Socialist Party, in 1935 he was Minister of Transport, ... ... Diplomatic Dictionary

- (b. 1884) reactionary politician and diplomat of Greece, leader of the monarchist People's Party (populists). In 1916, 17 C. was prefect in Patras and on about. Corfu, in 1920 22 minister of the royal government on about. Crete. In 1926 for participation in ... ... Diplomatic Dictionary

The entire post-war period in the history of the Soviet Union passed under the sign of opposition to the NATO military-political bloc. The international situation is also very difficult for contemporary Russia. Therefore, there is reason to more carefully analyze the history and current state of this union. It is essential for the Russian Federation which countries are members of NATO and which states intend to join this structure. Despite the repeated assurances of the modern leadership of the North Atlantic Alliance that it does not see Russia among its enemies, the very fact of the existence of this structure of Russia, to put it mildly, is not indifferent.

From the prehistory of the formation of military blocs in Europe

The most important prerequisite for the creation of the North Atlantic military bloc was the international situation that developed after the end of World War II. The creation of this military-political structure was due to the polarization of the forces and military-industrial potentials of the countries, which were divided into two large groups. Around the victorious Soviet Union in Eastern Europe, a whole belt of countries dependent on it, the so-called "socialist camp", was formed. The countries of Western Europe felt the immediate threat of expansion from the east. This put them in front of the need for military-political integration in order to maintain the established post-war borders and preserve their sovereignty.

This alignment of forces provides an answer to the question of which countries are members of NATO. At the time of its formation, the organization included twelve countries. These were states that did not enter the orbit of Soviet influence. They didn't want to be in it. Geographically, they were located outside the zone of influence of the Soviet Union. Of course, the Soviet point of view on the prehistory of the creation of the NATO bloc is diametrically opposed and is based on the assertion of the initially aggressive nature of the organization created in 1949 in Brussels. This explains the need to counter potential expansion from the West.

How it all began

April 4, 1949 is considered the official date of formation of the military-political bloc. On that day, ten European states, the United States of America and Canada put their signatures under the North Atlantic Treaty. The European members of the alliance since its foundation are: Great Britain, Belgium, France, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal and Italy.

NATO member countries have voluntarily assumed a number of international obligations. First of all, these include bringing the national armed forces of each of the participating states to common standards in weapons and equipment and subordinating them to a single command.

In addition, NATO member countries agreed on the volume of the military budget of each state, expressed as a percentage of gross domestic product. The leadership of the alliance announced the fundamental openness of the organization for new members to join it. The most important principle of the existence of the North Atlantic military-political bloc is the obligation according to which NATO countries regard aggression against each of them as an attack on the entire alliance, with all the military decisions that follow from this provision. Later this principle proved its effectiveness. In the entire history of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, no direct attacks on its members have been recorded. There were simply no people willing to test the strength of the most powerful military-political structure in the world.

Consequences of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty

NATO countries on the world map occupy a fairly significant territory, and it is located in the northern part of the Atlantic, which is reflected in the name of the alliance. At the time of its formation, the military-political bloc included the most economically developed and politically significant states. The creation of the North Atlantic Alliance was of fundamental importance for the development of the entire civilization during the second half of the twentieth century.

In 1954, at the international meeting of foreign ministers in Berlin, the Soviet representative put forward a proposal to the NATO bloc on cooperation and interaction in maintaining peace and international stability. This proposal was rejected. The Soviet Union rightly regarded the activities of the North Atlantic military bloc as a direct threat to its existence and was forced to take the necessary measures to repel potential aggression. They were expressed in the creation of the Organization of the Warsaw Pact countries, which opposes the NATO bloc in all directions.

The entire subsequent period of European and world history is designated by the definition of "cold war". This war, fortunately, was not destined to go into a "hot" stage. Periods of its exacerbation were several times replaced by a détente. The critical point of the Cold War is considered to be the so-called Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962. The confrontation between the Soviet Union and the NATO bloc at this point in time reached its climax. In subsequent years, intensive work was carried out to reduce international tension. A number of fundamental treaties were signed aimed at limiting the deployment of strategic nuclear weapons and reducing the level of confrontation between the North Atlantic Alliance and the Warsaw Pact countries. But even after the signing of documents on nuclear disarmament, the power of the combined nuclear potential of both sides of the confrontation was sufficient to destroy all life on planet Earth several times.

Arms race

NATO countries opposed the Warsaw Pact states not only in the proposed theater of operations. Of decisive importance in this confrontation were the industrial potentials of the countries included in the military blocs, and the level of production of weapons. It is generally accepted that military spending is very burdensome for the budget and requires savings on social programs. But the rapid development of weapons production technologies in the second half of the twentieth century, determined by the confrontation between the two military-political systems, also had a positive significance. It is expressed in the growth of the industrial potential of the countries participating in the arms race. And the countries that are members of NATO turned out to be the winners in this competitive struggle. The Soviet economy turned out to be less efficient, which led to the collapse of both the Soviet Union and the military-political bloc of the Warsaw Pact countries headed by it.

The armament of the NATO countries is still out of competition in terms of most tactical and technical indicators. Among the indirect consequences of the arms race between the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Soviet Union, one should also include such a phenomenon of the twentieth century as the exploration of outer space. Initially, ballistic missiles were developed to deliver a thermonuclear charge to other continents. But today, space technologies have found the widest application in various fields: from the creation of information communication systems to scientific research in a wide range of areas.

NATO expansion

In order to correctly answer the question of which countries are members of NATO, first of all, it is necessary to clarify what period of time we are talking about. The fact is that the North Atlantic Alliance during its existence has gone through as many as six stages, after which the number of countries participating in the treaty increased. History has proven the effectiveness of this military-political bloc. Membership in it for its participants is attractive. In addition to international prestige, it guarantees the security of all parties to the treaty.

Therefore, the map of NATO countries, which includes most of Europe and the two largest states of North America, is not stable. The territory of the countries that are members of the North Atlantic Alliance has a steady tendency to expand on it. This was especially evident at the beginning of the twenty-first century, when a significant number of independent states were formed on the European continent, formerly part of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia.

The process of integration into the structure of the alliance takes place gradually, in several stages. The decision to admit a country to membership in the organization is made by the NATO Council by consensus. That is, any of the member countries of the organization has the right to block the entry of new states into it. NATO member countries are required to meet a whole range of military, organizational and economic criteria. Therefore, candidates are prescribed a number of conditions that they must fulfill in order to join the organization - the so-called "Road Map".

Its implementation is associated with significant difficulties and financial costs. Sometimes it drags on for a long time. Therefore, the question of how many countries are in NATO should only be asked in relation to a specific historical date. At the same time, we should not forget about the states that are in the process of integration. This means that new NATO countries may soon appear. In 2014, there are 28 of them. And this figure cannot be considered final.

NATO allies

Not all states aspire to become full members of the alliance. Some simply do not have sufficient economic and military potential for such membership. For a number of countries, the charter of the alliance provides for a special allied status and partnership programs. These states should not be included in the list when answering the question of which countries are in NATO. They are not full members of the alliance. The degree of involvement in relations with NATO for different countries varies quite widely.

The principle of relations with allies is determined by the name of the program - "Partnership for Peace". Relations with the North Atlantic Alliance contribute to maintaining stability in various regions. NATO countries and the states included in the partnership program with them often carry out joint military operations to curb escalating military conflicts.

Geographically, some of the members of the "Partnership for Peace" are far beyond the borders of Europe. For example, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan. But the cooperation of these countries with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization contributes to maintaining peace and stability in remote regions of the Eurasian continent. Many developing states wish to join this partnership program, it is beneficial for them both economically and militarily.

The beginning of the nineties of the twentieth century was marked by the collapse of communist regimes in a number of Eastern European countries. Not only the Warsaw Pact Organization ceased to exist, but also the Soviet Union that led it. After its collapse, the world entered a new era of existence, without a split into opposing military-political blocs.

It would seem obvious that the decision to think about the dissolution of the North Atlantic Alliance, as having successfully completed its historic mission. However, nothing of the sort happened. The NATO bloc, whose countries felt like winners in a protracted cold war, did not even think of disbanding itself. An attempt to bring this issue up for discussion was followed by a quite reasonable answer: why eliminate something that has been invested so much money and effort and that has proven its effectiveness?

The most important argument in favor of the continued existence of the North Atlantic Alliance was the role that this organization plays in maintaining European and world stability. The matter was further complicated by the fact that a fairly significant group of countries from the former socialist camp expressed a desire to integrate into the NATO structure and become its full members. Most of the new states expressed their intention to integrate into the system of the existing alliance. The composition of the NATO countries in several stages was replenished with these newly formed states.

Russia and NATO

The Russian Federation, as the historical successor of the Soviet Union, was offered a special role in cooperation with the alliance. In May 1997, the Founding Act regulating Russia's relations with NATO was signed in Paris. According to this document, the alliance is obliged to inform the Russian Federation about the preparation of significant documents, but Russia does not have the right to veto decisions. Under the program "Partnership for Peace" our country takes part in the actions of the alliance in peacekeeping operations in Europe and different countries of the world. NATO member countries are forced to reckon with the nuclear status of the Russian Federation.

In the socio-political field of the Russian society, a negative attitude towards the North Atlantic military-political alliance prevails. This is due to the historical memory of several generations of Soviet people, in whose minds the armies of NATO countries were clearly identified with the forces of world evil. The image of the enemy has been formed over many years and decades, and the situation cannot be quickly changed by simple declamations that the alliance does not consider Russia its enemy. But looking at the total military-industrial potential of the North Atlantic bloc, it is difficult to find in the world another military force comparable to it in size against which this power is deployed. Therefore, the Russian Federation has reason to distrust statements about the peace-loving nature of the alliance.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the new NATO member countries often come out with clearly expressed anti-Russian rhetoric. First of all, we are talking about the countries of the Baltic region - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. And also about the new NATO members from among the Eastern European states, first of all, about Poland. The most important principle of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation over the past two decades is to counteract the expansion of the North Atlantic Alliance in an easterly direction. But it was not possible to achieve much success in this - the 2014 map of NATO countries indicates the approach of the territory of the organization to the western borders of Russia. The ever-increasing Ukrainian crisis that erupted after this country outlined its vector of development towards the European Union with possible integration into NATO structures should be considered the greatest failure of the foreign policy of the Russian Federation. It is impossible to predict the further development of these events. But now there is an obvious escalation of tension between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

List of NATO countries and features of the structure of the alliance

At present, the North Atlantic bloc has reached the peak of its power. The maximum is the total territory occupied by NATO countries. For 2014 it is: Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Hungary, Germany, Greece, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Canada, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, United States of America, Turkey, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia. The official headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is located in Brussels, the capital of Belgium.

The alliance is currently headed by Anders Fogh Rasmussen. This is the twelfth Secretary General of NATO. The command system of the military-political bloc is structured into five headquarters. Their activities are divided both geographically and by combat arms. The headquarters control the Eastern, Western and Southern sectors of the Atlantic, as well as the Strike Fleet and the Allied Submarine Command.

The armies of the NATO countries are subordinate to a single supranational command. Their charters, equipment and weapons are brought to a single standard. Despite the fact that the basis of the combat power of the countries of the alliance is their thermonuclear potential, very much attention is paid to conventional weapons in NATO countries. And this means that membership in the organization is associated with a fairly significant level of military spending for its members. The military budgets of NATO member states are being coordinated with the leadership of the alliance.

Looking to the future

Attempts to predict the development of the European continent for many decades ahead cannot be taken more seriously than the usual futurological forecast. But one thing is certain: the North Atlantic Treaty Organization will continue to be important and exist in the short and medium term. This structure has been tested by time and managed to prove its effectiveness in ensuring stability and security on the continent. It is the key to successful economic and social development of the states participating in it. One of the most important trends in the development of the organization is a gradual shift in emphasis from military-political directions to humanitarian ones. In particular, to ensure the conduct of rescue operations in overcoming the consequences of significant natural disasters and man-made disasters.

An equally important area of application of efforts for the alliance is countering all forms of terrorist and extremist manifestations. Figuratively speaking, NATO structures are a kind of power frame that ensures the existence of the so-called "common European home."

One often hears the question of whether it is possible for the Russian Federation to integrate into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as a full-fledged member? It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. With certainty, we can only state that if this happens, it will not be very soon. However, the top leadership of the Russian Federation does not completely rule out such a possibility in the long term. But today, against the background of the aggravated international situation, it is not possible to talk about this.