Today marks the 75th anniversary of NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The alliance was formed in 1949 to unite western Europe, Canada, and the United States in a defensive pact. Despite previous doubts about its relevance, NATO is now looking ahead to the next 75 years, increasing military spending and preparing to counter potential Russian aggression. The catalyst for this transformation was the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began with the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and has escalated in recent years.
Today is the 75th birthday of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization - NATO . The founding treaty was signed on 4 April 1949, in Washington DC, to bind western Europe, Canada and the United States together in a defensive alliance . A dozen years ago there was much talk about the relevance of NATO ; many articles about its apparent loss of purpose, and no shortage of those questioning if it had a future.
Now its leaders are talking about the next 75 years of the alliance, stepping up military spending to levels not seen since the Cold War, and openly planning to counter an expected Russian attack on NATO territory in about five years' time. The transformation has been the result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; quietly at first following the 2014 annexation of Crimea, then rapidly and astonishingly over the past two years, after the attempted full scale invasio
NATO Anniversary Defensive Alliance Military Spending Russian Invasion Ukraine Crimea Future Challenges
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