NATO Fast Facts

Here's a look at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), headquartered in Brussels, Belgium.

The organization's charter states that the signing parties will "seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area," and will "unite their efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security."

April 4, 1949 - NATO is established.

2014-present - The current secretary general is Jens Stoltenberg, former prime minister of Norway. On March 24, 2022, Stoltenberg's tenure was extended by one year due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

March 21, 2023 - The secretary general's annual report is released.

Albania (2009)Belgium (1949)Bulgaria (2004)Canada (1949)Croatia (2009)Czech Republic (1999)Denmark (1949)Estonia (2004)Finland (2023)France (1949)Germany (1955, as West Germany)Greece (1952)Hungary (1999)Iceland (1949)Italy (1949)Latvia (2004)Lithuania (2004)Luxembourg (1949)Montenegro (2017)Netherlands (1949)North Macedonia (2020)Norway (1949)Poland (1999)Portugal (1949)Romania (2004)Slovakia (2004)Slovenia (2004)Spain (1982)Sweden (2024)Turkey (1952)United Kingdom (1949)United States (1949)

April 4, 1949 - The 12 nations of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States sign the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, DC.