What are the activities of NATO?
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is a group of countries that work together to keep each other safe.
It’s like a team of nations working for each other when they are in need. If one country is in trouble, the others will help, like friends helping each other out.
They conduct several meetings and plan how to stay secure, making sure everyone is ready to defend if needed. It is about countries teaming up to make sure to maintain peace and safety in the countries, just like having good friends to rely on.
How does NATO Function?
I will try to explain the basic objectives of its formation, working structure, activities, fundamental roles, and partnerships with other nations, and international institutions.
Fundamental Role of NATO:
NATO plays a fundamental role that guarantees the freedom and security of its member countries in the political and military domain.
NATO contributes military forces on a voluntary basis to its member states and very few permanent forces are involved in the military role play.
However, NATO has an organized military command structure, and the alliance conducts the military implications after seeking a political consensus from the North Atlantic Council.
Partnership:
NATO entertains partnerships with global nations and it has conducted its operations on various political issues by partnering with specific nations to have productive results.
For Instance,
Partnerships for peace include Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia, and Herzegovina, Finland, Germany, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, Republic of Moldova, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
Mediterranean Dialogue included Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative was partnered with Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
NATO has Global Partners that include countries like Afghanistan, Australia, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.
NATO works in association with global organizations such as the United Nations, European Union, Organisation for Security, and Co-operation in Europe.
Important Note:
In the process of partnership to achieve the set objectives, the partner countries do not have the same level of decision-making authority as the member countries of NATO.
NATO Membership:
NATO member nations are listed below and the year is next to every country. It defines the year of becoming a member.
Basic Points Underlying the NATO Activities:
NATO’s member nations participate in a political and military alliance, incorporating a collective defense activity to support its needy members. Strengthen the transatlantic link and continue with the 2022 strategic concepts.
While functioning NATO does include decision-making, engaging consultations, undertaking operations, and empowering missions.
NATO provides security in day-to-day lives and tries to create well-being in the member nations. However, the organization relentlessly works to guarantee freedom and security by engaging itself in political dialogue and military operations if necessary.
Political Upfront:
Through the process, NATO functions in a democratic framework, and the council enables the members to interact on various issues.
It engages dialogues on defense cooperation, builds a healthy relationship based on trust, and promotes conflict management for a long-term relationship.
Military Upfront:
This section of NATO plunges into action if peace resolution fails and a critical conflict arises. The military power shall take over the crisis-management operations. To initiate any military offensive action, NATO works under the defense clause, Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. In addition, it can also work under the United Nations mandate, in cooperation with non-member countries, or international organizations.
The defense clause of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty states that an attack on any member of NATO will directly mean to be an attack against all.
The defense clause of Article 5 was invoked after the occurrence of the 09/11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001.
Working Structure @NATO
NATO consists of an International Staff under the Secretary-General that undertakes the administrative activities. The entire activities are broken into two components, NATO delegations, and military representatives.
NATO Delegation:
It contains the Nuclear Planning Group and North Atlantic Council. Further, the Subordinate Committees undertake the instruction from the nuclear planning group, and North Atlantic council and complete the assigned tasks.
Military Representatives:
It constitutes a military committee with international military staff, further the delegation activity progresses into allied command operations, and allied command transformations forming an integrated military command structure.