NATO

About: 

• NATO is also called the North Atlantic Alliance.  
  
  
• Objective: It is an intergovernmental military alliance between North American and European countries. It constitutes a system of collective defence whereby its independent member states agree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party.  
  
  
• HQ: Brussels, Belgium. 
  
  
• Origin: The alliance is based on the North Atlantic Treaty that was signed in 1949. 
  
  
• Member Countries: It consists of 29 independent member countries. Three former Soviet states (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) are members of NATO. 
  
  
• Partners: NATO cooperates with a range of international organisations and countries in different structures (as mentioned below) - 
  • Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)  
    
    
  • NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue 
    
    
  • Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) 
    
    
  • Partners across the globe: Under it, countries develop cooperation with NATO in areas of mutual interest, including emerging security challenges. In 2018, Colombia become partner across the globe. Pakistan is also NATO’s partner across the globe. 
    
    
  
  
  

Recent development: 

• The Macedonia-NATO accord follows a deal with Greece ending a 27-year-old dispute over Macedonia's name. Following the signing of the Accession Protocol, Macedonia can now take part in NATO activities as an invitee.  
  
  
• The accession process now moves to the capitals of the 29 Allies where the Protocol will be ratified according to national procedures. The country will become a member of NATO as soon as all Allies have ratified the Accession Protocol. 
  
  
• Russia has opposed the development by saying that by taking in Balkan members, the alliance is undermining security in the region.