When was NATO founded?

NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, was founded on April 4, 1949. This crucial date marks the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in Washington, D.C., by 12 initial member countries. The primary purpose of NATO was to provide collective defense against aggression, particularly in response to the post-World War II security landscape and rising tensions during the early stages of the Cold War.

The founding of NATO represented a significant shift in European and North American military cooperation and was a landmark moment in establishing a transatlantic alliance based on democratic principles and mutual defense. The organization has since expanded to include multiple additional member nations and has played a pivotal role in international security and defense collaboration over the decades.