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The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''' (NATO) is an alliance of 26 nations, founded in 1949.   

The '''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''' (NATO) is an military alliance of 26 nations, founded in 1949.   

==History==

==History==

=== Beginning ===

=== Beginning ===

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established shortly after [[World War II]] in 1949. The original members consisted of ten Western European countries, the [[United States]], and [[Canada]]. These countries formed the alliance to further the goal of security in the North Atlantic region, they did this by ingraining the principal that an attack against one member would be considered an attack against all, and thus, all would respond with support to the attacked nation. In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliances history, letting in [[Turkey]].  

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was established shortly after [[World War II]] in 1949. The original members consisted of ten Western European countries, the [[United States]], and [[Canada]]. These countries formed the alliance to further the goal of security in the North Atlantic region, they did this by ingraining the principal that an attack against one member would be considered an attack against all, and thus, all would respond with support to the attacked nation. In 1952 NATO began its first round of enlargement of the early alliances history, letting in [[Turkey]].  

=== Cold War ===

=== Cold War ===

=== Modern History ===

=== Modern History ===

After Kosovo, NATO’s ability to be an offensive organization was in question. Some called for the abolishment of the organization, stating that it had lost it original purpose.  

After Kosovo, NATO’s ability to be an offensive organization was in question. Some called for the abolishment of the organization, stating that it had lost it original purpose.  

NATO began to look for its new goal in the 21 century. Then on September 11, 2001, its goal was defined. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[Pentagon]] by terrorist, NATO countries quickly responded to come to the [[United States]] aid as they had promise in Article Five of their founding treating. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavo]]r, which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking. After the end of the [[Cold War]], European defense spending had weakened and its military lacked technology and modernization.  In 2002, NATO met for its annual summit, which was held in [[Prague]]. The 19 country alliance made a list of improvements that its members needed to make in order to effectively fight the war on terror, these improvements called for, among other thing, a NATO Military Concept for Defense against Terrorism.  NATO members also took steps to modernize there forces, all 19 countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. NATO also agreed on its new focus, terrorism. As  Spain’s former prime minster [[José María Aznar]], said, “Jihadism has replaced Communism, as Communism replaced Nazism, as an existential threat to the liberal democracies.”

NATO began to look for its new goal in the 21 century. Then on September 11, 2001, its goal was defined. After the attacks on the [[World Trade Centers]] and [[Pentagon]] by terrorist, NATO countries quickly responded to come to the [[United States]] aid as they had promise in Article Five of their founding treating. AWACS airplanes were sent on surveillance and NATO began its first and only article five mission to this day, [[Operation Active Endeavo]]r, which was a Maritime mission to protect the Mediterranean from terrorist operations and drug and WMD trafficking. After the end of the [[Cold War]], European defense spending had weakened and its military lacked technology and modernization.  In 2002, NATO met for its annual summit, which was held in [[Prague]]. The 19 country alliance made a list of improvements that its members needed to make in order to effectively fight the war on terror, these improvements called for, among other thing, a NATO Military Concept for Defense against Terrorism.  NATO members also took steps to modernize there forces, all 19 countries agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense. NATO also agreed on its new focus, terrorism. As  Spain’s former prime minster [[José María Aznar]], said, “Jihadism has replaced Communism, as Communism replaced Nazism, as an existential threat to the liberal democracies.”