This Day in History: The Creation of NATO

On April 4, 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington, D.C., establishing NATO. This event was initiated by the United States and the United Kingdom, which, together with Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal, joined together to form a defensive military and political alliance. Today, 32 countries from North America and Europe are members of the Alliance.

Over the years of its existence, the Alliance has overcome many crises in the world. The soviet union, NATO’s main adversary in the Cold War, has long since become history. However, the well-known Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty has been invoked only once – in 2001, after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States. That was the first time in history that NATO deployed its forces and means to conduct anti-terrorist operations.

Ukraine’s cooperation with the Alliance began with independence. Our country took its first steps towards rapprochement with NATO in 1991, when we joined the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. In 1994, Ukraine became the first post-soviet state to join the Partnership for Peace program. Over time, relations have only deepened and developed, and today Ukraine has a long history of active participation in NATO-led operations and missions.

With the beginning of russia's full-scale invasion, cooperation between our country and the North Atlantic Alliance has gained new momentum. NATO has strongly condemned the rf’s war of aggression and is constantly providing comprehensive assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and civilians, which is extremely important for a worthy rebuff to the aggressor.

Ukraine’s security is of great importance to NATO and all Allies. The Alliance fully supports Ukraine’s inalienable right to self-defence, as well as its right to choose its own security mechanisms.

Given today’s realities, Ukraine’s membership in the Alliance would be the most powerful guarantee of security. That is why in 2022, our country applied for accelerated accession to NATO, and membership is considered one of the strategic goals of Ukraine’s current security policy.

It is worth reminding that according to the Law of Ukraine “On Intelligence”, cooperation with relevant foreign authorities and international organizations is one of the functions of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. A special emphasis in the Service’s activities in this sphere is placed on the development of cooperation with the competent authorities of NATO member states. Using stable ties and established mechanisms of cooperation, the Service constantly studies and implements the best NATO experience and standards, improves existing and introduces new forms and methods of intelligence activities.