A Short History of NATO (nato.int)

• Founded in 1949 with Article 5 as the cornerstone of collective defense.
• France withdrew from integrated military command in 1966 but remained in the Alliance.
• Post-Cold War expansion and new partnerships like the Mediterranean Dialogue.

"NATO was founded in 1949 to deter Soviet expansion, prevent the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe, and encourage European integration. The article covers its evolution from the Cold War, détente, the French withdrawal from integrated command, to post-Cold War enlargement. Key milestones include the Harmel Report, INF Treaty, and the fall of the Berlin Wall."