Changes

In 2004 NATO further expanded to Eastern European countries, these included Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, resulting in an organization of 26 nations.  This spark of expansion was seen as an offensive move by Russia and caused a rife in the in NATO, Russia relations. The Russian lower house released to the press a statement, "At present we are debating the draft statement of the State Duma which we are planning to adopt in connection with NATO's expansion eastward. Our opinion is equivocal that this act is erroneous. I think that this is a big historical mistake on the part of western states,"

In 2004 NATO further expanded to Eastern European countries, these included Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Romania, resulting in an organization of 26 nations.  This spark of expansion was seen as an offensive move by Russia and caused a rife in the in NATO, Russia relations. The Russian lower house released to the press a statement, "At present we are debating the draft statement of the State Duma which we are planning to adopt in connection with NATO's expansion eastward. Our opinion is equivocal that this act is erroneous. I think that this is a big historical mistake on the part of western states,"

=== Afghanistan ===

=== Afghanistan ===

NATO took command and co-ordination of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003. NATO and some non-member states joined (such as Australia and Japan), the initial mission was limited to Kabul, but soon expanded. In 2006, when NATO took over full command over the Afghanistan operation, the [[Taliban]] began a major campaign. Commanders complained that their forces were being re stricted by national caveats and also that they needed more troops. In the November of 2006, at another NATO summit in [[Riga]], NATO countries removed 15% of caveats placed on troops. NATO called on member governments to provide more troops to their mission in Afghanistan but countries capability's were stretched thin in [[Kosovo]] as well as a mission in [[Iraq]] of training the new government’s security force. As a result only one NATO member was able to send more troops to the Afghanistan mission.{{fact}}

NATO took command and co-ordination of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in August 2003. NATO and some non-member states joined (such as Australia and Japan), the initial mission was limited to Kabul, but soon expanded. In 2006, when NATO took over full command over the Afghanistan operation, the [[Taliban]] began a major campaign. Commanders complained that their forces were being re stricted by national caveats and also that they needed more troops. In the November of 2006, at another NATO summit in [[Riga]], NATO countries removed 15% of caveats placed on troops. NATO called on member governments to provide more troops to their mission in Afghanistan but countries capability's were stretched thin in [[Kosovo]] as well as their mission in [[Iraq]] of training the new Iraqi government’s security force.  

==NATO Members==

==NATO Members==