Why In News
Former U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to withdraw support to NATO citing the failure of European NATO allies to step up their defence expenditure.
He went on to state that he would encourage Russia to do whatever it wanted.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg countered saying, any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S.” Mr. Trump’s statement comes amid challenges that President Biden is facing to get the U.S. Congress to pass the Ukraine aid bill.
NATO – Basic details
The NATO is an intergovernmental military alliance of 31 member states—29 European and two North American.
Established in 1949, the organization implements the North Atlantic Treaty, signed in Washington, D.C., on 4 April 1949.
NATO is a collective security system: its independent member states agree to defend each other against attacks by third parties.
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Secretary General: Jens Stoltenberg
Member states: 31
Official languages: English and French
NATO's primary purpose is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.
The organization constitutes a system of collective defense whereby an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.
This principle is enshrined in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that "the Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all."
NATO has been involved in a number of military operations throughout its history, including the Korean War, the Kosovo War, and the War in Afghanistan.
The organization also plays a role in crisis management, cooperative security, and arms control.
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